Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, outlines
a positive outlook for the region with the roll-out of devolution and enhanced
transport links at his annual pro-manchester business lunch at the Midland Hotel.

Trust in the community

Councillor Jonathan Coupe explains the role of trusts and the relationship
with local business in his role as Lead Member for Trust Development
with Trafford Council.

Forever Manchester
launch RESET
A new initiative from Community Foundation Charity
Forever Manchester is launched from iconic restaurant
Manchester House in the heart of Spinningfields.

‘100 Club’ Business
Networking kicks off
New Business networking event scores at Sale FC Rugby
Club in support of charity Alex Hulme Foundation.

Castle Keep Law
Focus feature on one of Sale’s fast growing legal firms.
An inside look on a South Trafford success story.

Gary Neville scores with
Hotel Football
Trafford Pledge attracts some great new signatories,
including Hotel Football. Gary Neville drops in to chat
to students at Emirates Old Trafford and to share the
hotel’s local employment opportunities for young people.

Sale Insurance Services Ltd are authorised and regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 306620

3

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

contents
4 news

18

All the latest from around
Manchester and beyond.

Subscription is easy. Simply visit
www.traffordbusinessconnect.co.uk
and click through to subscribe,
where you can register your details
to receive an electronic link to the
magazine as soon as it is published.

4
22

editorial
Here at Trafford Business Connect
we are on the lookout for both
news articles relating to business
activity within Manchester, or
educational articles that can help
businesses at any level. If you
regularly send out press releases,
or if you are looking for press
coverage of a newsworthy event,
please get in touch either by phone
or send an email to editorial@
traffordbusinessconnect.co.uk

We offer a fantastic range of
advertising opportunities, from
full pages through to eighth pages
that offer advertising at extremely
reasonable rates.

33 social media
Classic do’s and don’ts.

34

Discounted packages are available
on request for series bookings.

digital marketing
Keep your website from being
deindexed.

35 finance

Christmas gifts - the tax position.

36 web design

28
30

Improving your conversion rate.

• 07708 987518

Holiday pay and overtime.

39 networking

32

7 secrets of successful networking.

Express yourself and say how you
feel...

37diary dates

Business networking events over
the coming months.

38 places to meet
List of venues and facilities
supporting business across
Manchester.

For more information please
download a copy of our media
pack found on our website:
www.traffordbusinessconnect.co.uk
or alternatively please email:
advertising@traffordbusiness
connect.co.uk or phone:

Paul Mirage

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40 wellbeing

connect

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18 focus

Trust Development Insight from
Jonathan Coupe - Head of Trafford
Council’s Trust Development.
Synextra Offering an alternative to
multiple IT providers.
Castle Keep Law In depth look at a
multi-faceted law firm.
Brooks Macdonald Manchester
office of the award winning asset
management business.

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4

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

news

Manchester hotel occupancy Good news for
rates reach new levels
homebuilders
New hotel occupancy data
for August 2014 reveals that
Manchester’s city centre hotel
industry is in strong health with rates
now outperforming peak levels
reached in 2006 and 2007.

hotel and tourism industry. Current
demand means that we are now
exceeding the rates experienced in
pre-recession years, but we are also
on the cusp of a dramatic increase in
supply to meet this.

In the first eight months of 2014
the city centre had an average
occupancy rate of 76% - a figure
previously unmatched at this point
in the year since records began. This
figure has been sustained by record
weekday rates (75% average YTD)
and strong performing weekend
rates (81% average YTD).

“The challenge will now be to
make the most of this opportunity
for further growth and to sustain
occupancy figures as room
numbers increase.

The achievement comes at a time
when the city centre is preparing
for an additional 2,100 rooms in the
immediate pipeline – extending to
2,700 in Greater Manchester – with
new developments from at least six
operators who are investing in the
conurbation for the first time.
Andrew Stokes, chief executive at
Marketing Manchester, said: “We
are thrilled with the latest hotel
occupancy data which indicates
a significant achievement for our

“A number of hotel operators
that are brand new to Greater
Manchester have shown their
confidence in the industry by
investing here and we will work with
them and existing hotels to help
continue the occupancy trajectory.”
The recent data also showed that the
city centre achieved its highest ever
August hotel occupancy at 78% with
both weekend and weekday levels
reaching record highs.
Tourism generates £6.6bn a
year for the Greater Manchester
economy and supports 84,000 full
time equivalent jobs that highlight
Manchester’s sector strengths.

There is good news for self
builders and custom builders’
clients in Trafford. Self builders
are now exempt from paying The
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
- an additional tax on new home
and some extensions. The new
exemption came into force in late
summer 2014.

an exemption is now available and
comments: “Most house extensions
and new builds that we design here
at Arc Design Services are more
than 100 square metres, so we’ve
had to spend a lot more time on
planning applications, and clients
have been faced with thousands of
pounds of extra unnecessary costs.

The Community Infrastructure Levy
(CIL) was brought into effect by the
Planning Act of 2008, leaving self
builders with crippling expenses
due to additional costs on new
residential building projects over
100 square metres of anything
between from £20 to £80 per square
metre depending upon the area
of the build. In areas such as Hale,
Altrincham and Bowdon, the charge
would typically be higher than
other areas.

We’re really pleased that sense
has prevailed and that families
and self builders are able to claim
exemption if they are going to live
in the property for at least three
years after they have completed
the work”.

Self builders were also being
invoiced up to £20-£40,000 as
a condition of being granted
planning approval.

Self builders who are considering
building a new home or extending
their current property more than 100
square metres will need to apply
for a CIL exemption and receive a
notice back from Trafford Council
before any work can commence.
For more information about the
new exemption, contact Jonathan
Riddle on 0161 928 4433.

Jonathan Riddle from Hale-Based
Arc Design Services is pleased that

TJ Hughes returns to Stretford Mall
with creation of 40 jobs
based shopping centre to welcome
back such a well-known store which
had been sorely missed by shoppers.
Colin said: “We are extremely thrilled
and excited to see TJ Hughes back in
the unit which our shoppers are very
familiar at finding them in.
“We have been working very hard
behind the scenes with TJ Hughes to
secure their return and it really is so
positive to see it come to fruition.
Stretford Mall Manager,
Colin McCrory, celebrates
the return of TJ Hughes

Stretford Mall bosses are celebrating
the return of department store
TJ Hughes with the creation of 40
new jobs.
The much-loved retailer, which was
established in 1912 and taken over
by Lewis’s Home Retail Ltd in August
2011, re-opened in its original large
corner unit at the busy Stretford

shopping hub at the end of October.
Over 150 shoppers were outside
waiting for the new store to open
it’s doors.
The news was greeted by Stretford
Mall Manager Colin McCrory with
delight who added it was a significant
development for the community-

“Not only will it return to its status as
one of our main flagship retailers for
the scheme, but it will also create 40
new jobs which is terrific news for our
local community.
“Its return is also perfectly timed
to fit in with our preparations for
the busy festive period and I know
the opening of TJ Hughes will add
significantly to the choice on offer to
our loyal shoppers as we start the run
up to the big day.
“Added to our other high street

names such as WH Smith, Boots,
Tesco, B&M Bargains, Blue Inc,
Peacocks, Clarks and Grainger
Games, there is plenty to provide
a great day out shopping for all
the family.”
The discount department store will
specialise in home and fashion,
fragrance and cosmetics, technology
and electricals. It offers premium
brands at up to 70% discount and
quality products at low prices.
With its headquarters in Liverpool,
it currently has nine department
stores nationwide from Eastbourne
in the south to Glasgow in the north.
The company employs around
700 people.
Kim Beattie, Marketing Manager for
Lewis’s Home Retail Ltd, said: “We
are delighted and excited to return
to Stretford because of the many
loyal customers we know we have
in the area.”

December/January 2015

500 Trafford businesses
are missing out on
business rate relief
Over 60 per cent of eligible Trafford
high street businesses are already
benefiting from the £1,000 business
rate relief scheme introduced in April.
With around £1.5m due to be given
to businesses during the 2014-2015
and 2015-2016 financial years, the
Council is urging the remaining
500 or so businesses to complete
the relevant forms online, so they
don’t miss the chance to secure this
funding whilst it is still available. You
can apply on line at www.trafford.
gov.uk/retailrelief
Eligible premises are those with a
rateable value of £50,000 or less,

which are wholly or mainly being used
as shops, restaurants, cafes or pubs.
In another step towards improving
things for businesses, the Council is
now encouraging businesses to sign
up to Trafford’s Open Access System.
Once registered you will be able to
view your business rates account on
line, view up to date details of your
account immediately, check to see if
you have been awarded the retail rate
relief, see payments you have made
and check your balance 24/7.
To register for the Open Access
System, go to www.trafford.gov.uk/
traffordonline

Criteria Relaxed
for Small Business
Development Funding
The Growth Vouchers programme
is a Government-funded project to
help small businesses grow. There is
a degree of urgency for companies
to take advantage of the scheme as it
expires in March 2015.

• Improving leadership and
management
• Making the most of digital
technology
• Managing cash flow, late payments
and negotiating finance

The scheme gives up to £2,000 to help
• Developing skills and taking
with a company’s business growth
on staff
efforts on a matched-funding basis.
Invest £500 and you get £250.
Applying is a simple 2-stage process.
Invest £4,000 and you get £2,000.
A 10-minute on-line registration
followed by a 30-minute diagnostic.
The good news is that the qualifying
The aim of the diagnostic is to help
criteria have recently been relaxed.
you focus in on your area of greatest
The new criteria are:
need. The diagnostic can be on-line,
• Be registered in England
over the phone or face-to-face.
• Employ less than 250 people (FTE)
You’ll know if your application has
been successful within 24 hours of
• Turnover less than €50 million
your diagnostic.
• Have received less than €200,000
Once you have your Growth
of public support in the last 3 years
Voucher you can select a service
• Be independent (no more than
provider from the Enterprise Nation
25 per cent owned by a third party)
Marketplace: https://marketplace.
Companies who’ve been on the Growth enterprisenation.com/
Accelerator scheme are eligible, and
More details can also be found at
support can be accessed in 1 of 5 areas: http://sme-businesssolutions.co.uk/
• Marketing and Business
Development

5

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

growth-vouchers/ or call Winning
Pitch on 0161 876 4922

Greater Manchester
Investment Portfolio
launches in Beijing
A delegation of Manchester-based
business representatives has today
launched an investment portfolio for
the city-region to a Chinese audience
of entrepreneurs and investors
in Beijing.
The portfolio, which is available in
Mandarin and English, showcases
opportunities to buy into, collaborate
and develop partnerships around
some of Greater Manchester’s most
exciting developments. It has been
produced by the Manchester China
Forum, a business-led initiative aimed
at increasing Greater Manchester’s
commercial connectivity with China.
It was officially launched in Beijing
at China-Britain Business Council’s
(CBBC) annual outbound conference
- the flagship event for enabling
Chinese and British companies to
identify practical opportunities and
realise investment partnerships around
the world in a variety of sectors.
Manchester’s presence at the CBBC
Outbound Conference is supported
by a partnership that includes
Addleshaw Goddard, Allied London,
Deloitte, JLL, Manchester China
Forum, Marketing Manchester,
MIDAS and Manchester Airport.
Rhys Whalley, executive director of
the Manchester China Forum, said:
“Chinese investors frequently request
examples of specific opportunities in
the UK, so we’ve purposely tailored
Greater Manchester’s investment
portfolio with this specific audience in
mind. It should go some way towards
helping to whet the appetite and

facilitating those
important initial
conversations.
“The portfolio
is intended to
evolve as new
opportunities
Rhys Walley,
Executive Director of the
emerge and is
Manchester China Forum
also designed
to emphasise
the messages we have for potential
investors; that Manchester offers a
viable and appealing investment
alternative to the UK’s capital with
significant cost-savings and a growing
infrastructure that is backed by
strong leadership.”
Charlie Cornish, chief executive of
Manchester Airports Group (MAG)
and China Forum Chair, added:
“Manchester has a rich property
offering for international investors
and occupiers alike. Couple this
with an international airport, with
over 200 destinations and incredible
connectivity, then the city is well
placed to meet global real estate
demand. Plus from December
Manchester will be the only airport
outside of London with a direct route
to China, making connectivity to the
Far East even easier.
“It is with great pride to see the
China Forum launch its portfolio
today, which in a short timeframe has
achieved so much and strengthened
our links with this great country.”
To find out more about Manchester
China Forum, please go to:
www.manchesterchinaforum.com

Funding from MMU available to
recruit up to 100 graduate Interns
Manchester Metropolitan University
recently launched GradMatch
MMU, a partially funded graduate
internship scheme providing up to
100 organisations with £1,000 to put
towards a recent graduate’s salary for
an 8 week internship.

the additional £1,000 to ensure
the graduate is paid the National
Minimum Wage. Internships can be
in any area as long as the work is
graduate level. Interns will start their
internships between 24th November
2014 and 12th January 2015.

MMU will advertise and promote
the internship and identify suitable
graduates. The business then employs
the graduate direct through their
payroll and will need to provide

More information about the
scheme, including links to the forms
to complete to take part, can be
found at www.mmu.ac.uk/careers/
gradmatch

6

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

news

Best Western Cresta Court awarded
WorldHost Recognised Business Status
known as a ‘WorldHost Recognised
Destination’, excelling in its service
and offering for visitors to the
town. In order to achieve
the WorldHost destination
status, 25 percent of Altrincham’s
businesses need to train
their workforce to WorldHost
Recognised Business standards;
something The Best Western
Cresta Court has now achieved.

On receiving the recognition,
general manager Paul Hindley
commented: “We are passionate
about service standards and are
especially proud to be the first
Hotel in Greater Manchester to
achieve the WorldHost Recognised
Business status.”
Following a major refurbishment
programme over the last year,
the independently owned Best
Western Cresta Court Hotel in
Altrincham, has now become
the latest organisation in the UK,
and the very first hotel in Greater
Manchester, to gain national
recognition for its commitment
to customer service, after being
awarded WorldHost Recognised
Business status.
WorldHost is a world-class
customer service training
programme that has already been
used to train nearly over 150,000
people in the UK, including tens of
thousands of staff and volunteers

He adds: “When our customers

for the London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games.
WorldHost Recognised Business
status is awarded to businesses
that have trained 50% or more of
their front line staff using any of the
WorldHost training programmes
and signed a commitment to
delivering excellent customer
service. With over 50% of its
staff now trained to WorldHost
standards, the BEST WESTERN
Cresta Court has joined 400 other
UK hotels in officially becoming a
WorldHost Recognised Business.
Altrincham in south Manchester
is working towards becoming the
first town in England to become

see the WorldHost logo displayed
in our business, they’ll know that
we have made a commitment
to delivering an exceptional
experience for them. Not only
does this generate a positive buzz
about the service we offer, but it
helps to promote Altrincham as
a friendly and welcoming tourist
destination.”
The WorldHost programme is
being rolled out across the UK by
skills and workforce development
charity, People 1st, to help
businesses gain a competitive
edge and position the nation as a
world-class tourist destination.
More information about WorldHost
training can be found at
www.worldhost.co.uk

Do you want the publicity,
but don’t have time to write it?

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Siemens and Trafford College launch
new skills partnership
Siemens and Trafford College
have partnered to launch a
groundbreaking skills and
apprenticeship partnership in
order to help tackle the region’s
engineering skills shortage. The
partnership will see students from
across the North West train at
the new Centre for Science and
Technology which has received over
£15M of new investment, equipped
with a Siemens lab in order to help
engineering apprentices across a
number of businesses to become
qualified and employed in the sector.
Siemens has supplied the college
with cutting edge industrial
technologies and 12 apprentices
will train at the college focusing
on electrical engineering. The
college has opened a new lab which
has been installed with Siemens
‘programmable logic controllers’
which are designed to help
young people learn about factory
automation.
The partnership is part of Siemens’
successful bid for the Employer
Ownership of Skills Pilot, which seeks
to help employers train young people
whilst encouraging further education.
The engineering company will be
working with their solution provider
partners in the area of apprenticeship
provision to generate the appropriate
skills for the sector and will claim
assistance for learners for the
management of the scheme, college
and specialised technical training
course costs.
Siemens will run the apprenticeship
scheme on behalf of it customers

and partners which include Bilfinger,
Boulting Group, Cleveland Systems,
and the Siemens Glass Academy
launched with British Glass last year.
The first apprentices started at the
beginning of September and the
partnership has flourished; one of the
partner SMEs, Applied Integration,
is a key supplier to the BAE systems
astute class submarine program.
Siemens Rail Systems based in
Ardwick, Siemens Industry based
in Didsbury and Siemens Electrium
based in Wythenshawe will be taking
on apprentices who will study at
the college.
Juergen Maier, Siemens Industry
Managing Director said: “We are
very proud to be playing such a
leading role in boosting the skills of
engineering apprentices across the
North West, which has the largest
manufacturing sector anywhere in
the UK. By getting directly involved in
the education of future engineers we
are able to develop the skills industry
needs to stay ahead of international
competition. This partnership is a
vital part of helping create the green
industrial jobs of the future.”
By the end of their apprenticeships,
the students will be trained and
qualified to technician level
in Siemens’ PLCs and drive
technologies. Apprentices will be
studying for the BTEC National
Certificate in Electrical/Electronic
Engineering, followed by day release
at Siemens for specific training on
Siemens products.
Sir Bill Moorcroft, Principle of
Trafford College commented:

“Trafford College is delighted to
be working alongside Siemens in
what are very exciting times for the
STEM industry. Trafford College has
invested £15M in our new Centre for
Science and Technology, and through
our innovative partnership with
Siemens we are developing the next
generation of skilled apprentices. We
look forward to continuing to work
closely with Siemens and employers
large and small, to develop the skills
needed to grow our economy.”
Siemens has already invested in
the up-skilling of young people
interested in engineering and
manufacturing through the
sponsorship of a number of
University Technical Colleges across
the UK. The business has over 300
apprentices and recently the number
of apprenticeships exceeded the
graduate intake. Siemens recently
launched its own Junior Factory,

a production line run entirely by an
apprenticeship management team in
the world leading Congleton facility
which makes drives and invertors.
Gordon Birtwistle MP, Government
Apprenticeship Ambassador to
Business who attended the launch
said: “The opening of the new
Siemens’ sponsored laboratory
was a fantastic event, it is great
to see Siemens getting involved
with Trafford College, ensuring the
training of young people to the
standards Siemens and other high
tech manufacturing companies
require. I met a number of high
quality apprentices who will be the
future of this country”.
Siemens is now actively recruiting
its next intake of apprentices,
and the application window is
now open. For more information:
www.apprenticeships.org.uk/

With Trafford College

Financial incentive available up to £1,500*
* Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds. Subject to terms, conditions and availability.

£25-£50K available for
entrepreneurs
The North West Fund for Micro
Loans is a source of debt /quasi debt
investment to assist entrepreneurs
wishing to start their own business
and existing SMEs looking to grow.
It is targeted at businesses in the
North West that require finance to
achieve their growth plans.
The Fund can lend between £25,000
and £50,000 in a single round.
Businesses must demonstrate a

strong case for investment and
explain how the funding will assist in
creating and/or safeguarding jobs.
They should also provide a business
plan, which must show the business’
vision for growth and its ability to
service a loan.
For further information email
thenorthwestfund@businessfinance- solutions.org.uk or phone
David Martin on 0161 245 4952.

“Working with Trafford College is a vital part of helping to create the
jobs of the future, as we are able to develop the skills to stay ahead of
international competition.”
J U ER GEN M A I ER, S I EM EN S U K

8

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

news

Altrincham SME CEO elected
to Australian board
curricula, support for ICT R&D
and start-ups and the need to
drive sophisticated eGovernment
capability. She will undoubtedly be
a great asset to our organisation
and to the Australian ICT industry
generally.”

Elizabeth Vega, CEO and Jorge Fernandez, Informed Solutions Director of Operations,
Australia, with the Sydney Opera House in the background, showing just how
far-reaching Trafford Business Connect has become!

techUK’s CEO Julian David added;
“I am delighted by this news.
There is a strong connection
between the Australia and UK tech
industries and we have a long and
extremely positive association with
AIIA. Having one of our Board
members elected to their board
clearly reinforces that. Elizabeth
has made a significant contribution
to techUK and our industry and
we congratulate her on this
remarkable achievement.”

Elizabeth Vega, CEO of Altrincham
based IT and Management
Consultancy Informed Solutions,
has been elected to the National
Board of the Australian Information
Industry Association (AIIA), the
leading representative body
and advocacy group for the ICT
industry in Australia. Already a
Main Board Director of techUK,
the equivalent IT Industry
representative body in the UK, it
is the first time an individual has
been elected to the Boards of both

of these prestigious bodies at the
same time.
Speaking of her recent AIIA
election, Elizabeth said; “It is
an honour and privilege to be
appointed to the National Board
of such a highly respected and
influential body as AIIA. I am
committed to making a positive
and meaningful contribution to the
AIIA, its membership and also to
the Australian ICT industry through
enlightened advocacy and thought
leadership.

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My work, not only with AIIA in
Australia and techUK in the United
Kingdom, but in the global market
in which my company operates,
makes me acutely aware of the
shared challenges and shared
experiences facing ICT industries
around the world; the digital skills
gap, the demand for greater
innovation, higher productivity
and delivering better value. As
individual companies we all wish to
play our part in addressing these
challenges, but I passionately
believe that we are much stronger
through effective collaboration.”
AIIA CEO Suzanne Campbell said;
“Elizabeth’s election to the AIIA
Board clearly demonstrates the
respect of her industry peers and
their confidence in her ability to
represent the interests of the ICT
sector in Australia as our economy
transitions to an increasingly
global and competitive digital
economy. Elizabeth brings with
her both deep knowledge of the
ICT industry as well international
experience relevant to the current
issues facing the sector such as ICT
skills development, the integration
of STEM (science, technology,
engineering and math) into school

Robyn Saphier is Chafes’ first Legal
Services apprentice.
A Legal Services Apprenticeship is
an excellent way for young people to
combine studying with learning the
practical aspects of the law. Joining
the firm earlier this year, Robyn has
become an invaluable member
of the team working closely with
Gail Carberry, Head of Residential
Conveyancing.

the tasks she is asked to do and fits
really well into the team. I’m looking
forward to seeing her develop as she
embarks on her legal career path.”
In additional news, joining the
team at the Alderley Edge office
are Christopher Hughes and Lisa
Parkin. Christopher joins from
Wains Solicitors in Macclesfield and
has over eight years experience,
specialising in residential property.
Lisa was called to the Bar in 2008
before cross-qualifying as a solicitor
in 2011 with Cantor Law Limited. Lisa
is joining Chafes’ Investment Property
department which works primarily
with property portfolio investors.

Robyn Saphier

Robyn said, “I always wanted to
be a solicitor. I went to college
but felt it wasn’t for me and I was
never interested in being a full
time university student. I prefer to
experience things ‘hands-on’ which is
what this apprenticeship is allowing
me to do.
“I also attend Manchester
Metropolitan University, studying
one day a week which will allow me

Laura Farndon also joins from
DWF and brings over three years
experience. Laura specialises in
commercial property and will be
based at Chafes’ Wilmslow office.

to learn the theory to support the
practical experience I am getting,
and my long term goal is
to qualify as a solicitor specialising
in conveyancing.”
Gail Carberry said, “Robyn joined
the team at a very busy time for
the firm but she has really thrown
herself into office work and the
conveyancing process. She is positive
and enthusiastic in her approach to all

Managing Partner Jon Roberts said
“Christopher, Lisa and Laura bring
a wealth of expertise with them. As
we grow, we wanted to be sure we
are still able to deliver the same high
quality service we are known for.”

We are proud to
announce the
installation of the
latest full production
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Join our celebrations
and enjoy a discount on your
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A new way to
wine cellar
Wine Merchants Cork of the North
are raising a glass to toast their
new venture this winter – as they
have now expanded from the retail
sector into the wholesale market
– and have now started supplying
restaurants, bars and clubs with
their quality wines.
Based in Sale, Cork of the North
are a small, independent wine
merchant business that specialise
in authentic, value for money
wines from around the world
that are seldom seen on the high
street.
They offer a bespoke wine
package for bars and restaurants,
supplying wines that are perfect
for their clients’ needs – on both
suitability, quality and of course,
price. What’s more, many of

vices
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d
e
r
o
Tail
roviders
P
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io
t
lu
o
Print S
Scan this

Contact Ed or Alison

Tel. 0161 928 8826
www.120manchester.minutemanpress.com

120 Manchester Road
Altrincham WA14 4PY

December/January 2015

the wines on their list are a credible
alternative to the mass-produced
offerings currently being sold wholesale
by the so-called ‘big-boys’ – the
breweries and large drinks companies.
Cork of the North, who have just
celebrated their first anniversary
of trading, are now specialising in
helping bars and restaurants put
together the perfect wine list for their
establishments, and their team of
friendly and enthusiastic wine experts
offer a very personal service – a key part
of their offering from which has seen
their retail business go from strength
to strength.
Managing Director Marc Hough says:
“We pride ourselves on our customer
service – and as a small, independent
wine company, we always take the
time to build up special personal

RMS PR toasts
Warburtons win
Warburtons, Britain’s biggest
bakery brand, has appointed
Altrincham-based RMS PR following
a competitive pitch.
RMS beat six agencies to win the PR
brief to revamp and re-launch ‘W’,
the Warburtons internal magazine
and design and develop a microsite
and mobile app.
RMS’s consumer account director,
Caroline Eardley, will lead the
account, supported by a team
including lead creative, Andrew
Avery, account executive, Rachel
Leamon and head of digital
Alastair Fallon.
Tearmh France, corporate
and internal communications
manager at Warburtons,
said: “RMS demonstrated a
thorough understanding of our
communications objectives and
presented some excellent ideas and
creative work.
“They have a ‘can-do’ attitude and
are clearly passionate about making
a real difference to our business.”

Ruth Shearn, managing director
of RMS PR, said: “Warburtons is
the second biggest grocery brand
in the UK and our appointment
is testament to the quality of our
consumer PR team and in-house
creative, design and digital
departments.
“Warburtons loved the creative
work and ideas we pitched and also
our capability for delivering across
multiple platforms, with everything
managed within the agency.”
Warburtons is one of a number
of new client wins for RMS PR in
recent weeks, with the agency also
having been appointed by property
developer HB Villages and law firms
LHS and Farley Hilton Dwek.
Shearn added: “The agency has
a long tradition and excellent
reputation in corporate and B2B
public relations so it is particularly
exciting to see our consumer team
flourishing, too.”

December/January 2015

11

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

stock your

TREAT YOUR CLIENTS
AND CUSTOMERS TO
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CORK OF THE NORTH is a new independent online wine merchants
based in Sale, Manchester.
We offer a superior range of QUALITY wines with REAL character,
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relationships with all of our clients
by getting to know their individual
tastes and requirements.
“Our satisfied retail customers
consider us to be their ‘personal
wine merchant’ – because we get
to know their individual tastes
and supply bespoke wines that
we know they’ll love, directly to
their door.
“Too often, buying wine in a shop
or supermarket is a lottery, as you
don’t always know what you’re
going to get – but we take the
chance and doubt out of buying
wine by ensuring we always deliver
wines we know are perfect for our
customers’ tastes and budgets.
What’s more, because our ‘shop
front’ is on the internet, our
overheads are lower and we pass

those savings directly onto our
customers.
“We apply the same principle to
our new wholesale business – and
a growing number of bars are now
feeling the benefits of having their
wine supplied by such a customerfocused local company.”
Cork of the North also offer a
range of corporate services,
including informal wine tasting
sessions – and a special service
for festive corporate gifts
– which includes gift wrapping
and free delivery.

We supply direct to customers or offer great trade deals
to restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels.
We can put together the perfect wine
gift packages and a delivery service
is also available.
Take the guesswork out of buying wine.
Call Marc at Cork of the North now to
see what we can offer:

0161 969 6280

info@corkofthenorth.co.uk

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visit www.corkofthenorth.co.uk
or call 0161 969 1697

www.corkofthenorth.co.uk

12

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

news

Hollywood comes to
Manchester

between literary giant Thomas Wolfe
and renowned editor Max Perkins.

Independent business, Jones And
Co. Styling Opticians has been
featured in a new film staring Jude
Law, Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman.
Jones And Co.’s building, 82 King
Street in Manchester, was selected
by Pinewood Films as the backdrop
for the film’s opening scene with
Jude Law.
Tony Clarkson, Location manager at
Pinewood Films said: “The building
was originally home to the Bank
Of England so it is suitably grand,
and we dressed it with American
flags hanging from the flagpoles to
re-create the exact look of a specific
building on 5th Avenue, New York in
the 1930’s.”
Conor Heaney, Owner of Jones
And Co. said, “It was an amazing
transformation. The film company
built an intricate set with old New

York style street-side newspaper
stands and coffee stands. They even
removed a bus stop, parking signs
and took up all the road markings.
There were 100’s of extras all in
costume. And Jude Law and Colin
Firth performed the opening scene
right on our doorstep.”

Finding fame and critical success at a
young age, Wolfe is a blazing talent
with a larger-than-life personality to
match. Perkins is one of the most
respected and well-known literary
editors of all time, discovering
novelists like F. Scott Fitzgerald
and Ernest Hemingway. Wolfe
and Perkins develop a complex
friendship; which will change the
lives of these brilliant, but very
different men forever.

The film company dressed the upper
end of King Street, Manchester
as 1930’s Fifth Avenue, New York
for shooting the opening scenes.
The businesses located on King
Street all played their part. The UK
film industry brings many positive
aspects to the locations where they
film, and as a result they find local
businesses helpful and cooperative
with filming.

Conor Heaney said, “The project
generated a lot of interest from our
clients as well as attracting lots of
on-lookers throughout filming.
I brought my wife and kids along and
we had a fun day being part of a real
movie set for the day. It was ironic
that they needed to bring along
a Hollywood rain machine
to create the rain for the scene.
The Manchester weather
disappoints again!”

The film is called Genius. It’s set in
depression-era 1930s America. It
centres on the real-life relationship

Adrian Stewart, Business
Development Manager of Caunce
O’Hara Insurance Brokers,

also located at 82 King Street
commented: “I’ve read of late that
Hollywood is so impressed with
Manchester and that areas around
Dale Street look more like New York
than New York, so the fact that
82 King Street was used as a focal
point for Jude Law’s upcoming film
is no surprise.”
Genuis will be released in 2015.

New University Technical College for
Trafford Employers
The UTC@MediaCityUK is a new
school (due to open in September
2015) for 14-18 year olds who have
a passion for shaping digital and
creative content.
GCSE and A level students will
develop professional digital
and media skills, get hands-on
experience in TV & Film, Graphics

& Design, Radio & Audio, and
Interactive Media & Gaming, and
work closely with industry-leading
companies.
Employers are fundamental to
University Technical Colleges.
They play a central role in UTCs
right from the very beginning to

identify business needs and the
skills shortages in the local region.
Getting involved in UTCs offers
employers the opportunity to
ensure the next generation has the
expertise, employability skills and
knowledge needed to meet the
future needs of business.
Businesses also benefit from being

able to access the high-tech kit and
expertise within the UTC, along with
a highly skilled future workforce.
For more information
please contact Alan Brooks
at UTC@MediaCityUK on
0161 312 1515 or email
information@utcmediacityuk.org.uk

Partnership announced with
China’s leading institute for
building research
The first phase of a significant
new partnership between
China’s leading institute for built
environment research and the
University of Salford has been
announced with the launch of a new
Joint Doctorate programme in the
Built Environment.
The new collaboration with China
Academy of Building Research
(CABR) has been facilitated by
Manchester China Forum, a
business-led initiative aimed at
increasing Greater Manchester’s
commercial connectivity with China.
The partnership, which was officially
signed at a special event held at the
University’s THINKLab last month,
will see the University build upon
its existing and highly-regarded
research capabilities in the fields of
smart cities & building information
modelling, big data & e-health,
inclusive housing design, and low
carbon retrofit.
The Doctorate is to be promoted
across China and will be available to
postgraduates of building-related
and engineering disciplines. In
addition to the joint supervision of
PhD students the programme will
also incorporate a research staff
exchange and a series of research
collaborations.
Those studying for the PhD
qualification will spend half of the
course (1.5 years) in Beijing and
half in Salford, working with CABR

representatives. The programme is
expected to deliver initially 20 PhD
awards per year.
The Doctorate has launched as the
first phase of a wider programme of
work between the two institutions
which seeks to boost existing
expertise and skills within the
University and thus on behalf of the
Manchester city-region.
Rhys Whalley, executive director
of Manchester China Forum, said:
“Following the recent launch of
Manchester’s investment portfolio
in Beijing, this is another significant
milestone in our continued
engagement with China.
“The partnership has particular
relevance to on-going dialogue and
collaboration between Manchester
and China in the fields of smart
cities and urban regeneration;
bringing unprecedented access to
data and knowledge from one of
the world’s leading academies in
construction and engineering.
“CABR is China’s top research
institute for the built environment
and it sets out all of China’s codes
of practice, building regulations
and material testing requirements.
We’re therefore extremely excited
about how this project will develop
as we believe it will help to
unlock further opportunities for
collaboration and development.”
Steve Turner who leads Manchester

City Council’s smart city activity,
said: “Manchester is rapidly
positioning itself in the vanguard of
UK-China smart city work. This new
initiative will add to the pioneering,
Foreign Office funded work that we
are doing with Greater Manchester’s
SMEs through Digital China,
alongside our leading role in the EU
China Smart Cities Forum.”
Professor Martin Hall, vice
chancellor at University of Salford,
said: “This is a very important
relationship with such a prestigious
Chinese Academy and the School
of the Built Environment and the
School of Computing, Science and

Engineering which are our flagship
research centres.
“This partnership will complement
the £800m Manchester Airport City
project where Beijing Construction
and Engineering Group is now
a primary contractor. It is also
an exciting opportunity for the
University of Salford to develop
further partnerships as over 50%
of world construction is currently
in China.”

16

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

news

Bluebird Care Trafford wins

top award
Bluebird Care, one of the UK’s
leading home care providers, has
named its Trafford office finalists of
its prestigious Business of the Year
Award at its tenth annual awards held
in Warwickshire at the end of October.
With almost 200 offices across the
country offering the highest quality
home care to customers, owner of
Bluebird Care Trafford, Ian Helsby, was
recognised for his outstanding service
in the home care industry, as well
as his business’s role in contributing
to 20,000 care visits carried out by
Bluebird Care every day.

Helsby who have been instrumental
in helping Bluebird Care to
establish itself as one of the fastestgrowing care companies in the UK.
Commenting, Chief Operating
Officer, Simon Dalziel said:
“Bluebird Care has been delivering
high quality care to thousands
of customers at home for over
a decade, and I’m thrilled to
recognise the hard work Ian Helsby
and his team have been doing in
Trafford.

“They provide the highest
standards of care to our customers
Bluebird Care is dedicated to
ensuring that people have the option and are leading the field in
delivering a high quality service that
to receive high quality care in their
own homes, and it is committed and goes above and beyond on every
enthusiastic business owners like Ian single visit.”

Owner of Bluebird Care Trafford, Ian
Helsby said: “We’re delighted to be
recognised for all the outstanding
work we’ve been doing for our
private and NHS customers in
Trafford. Being recognised with
this award is incredibly special.

Our office management team and
our care workers take huge pride
in the job they do, delivering the
best possible service to all of our
customers in Altrincham, Sale,
Stretford and Urmston, and that’s
really reflected in this award today.”

Paul King joins the Shield
Group as Regional Director
Paul King has been appointed
as Regional Director at The
Shield Group, the UK’s largest
independent Total Security
Solutions (TSS) provider. Paul,
who joined the Group in October,
brings with him 25 years of
security industry experience, of
which 15 years have contributed
to his exceptionally strong
leadership and expert client
relationship abilities through
senior management positions.
He will be based in The Shield
Group’s Manchester Office and
will be looking after the Group’s
Northern portfolio, where his
commitment to customer service
and officer welfare will ensure that
The Shield Group’s standards are
maintained at its highest level,
and that back-up and support
are always available to his onsite

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teams to ensure consistent
service delivery.
Paul has also been a dedicated
member of the Manchester City
Crime Prevention Panel for eight
years, of which he was appointed
Chairman at the end of 2013.

opportunity to join The Shield
Group gives me great pleasure
and I happily look forward to
embarking on this new chapter

in my career. The Shield Group
enjoys a great reputation
within the industry and I am
pleased to be able to contribute
further to their already long
list of achievements with my
own personal experience and
network and work with their
exceptional team.”

Following the appointment, Chief
Executive of The Shield Group,
John Roddy commented on Paul’s
appointment: “We are delighted
to be welcoming Paul to The
Shield Group. Paul’s reputation
has preceded him and his
achievements, both in his previous
role and with the Manchester
City Crime Prevention Panel over
the past eight years, have been
impressive and will make him
a great fit within our team.”
Paul King commenting on
his appointment said: “The

Jonathan Coupe, Lead
Member of Trust Development
for Trafford Council, explains
the relationships between
Trusts, local business and
making improvements in
Council services.
As part of our regular looks into
Trafford Council’s relationship with
the local business community, this
edition we are chatting with Jonathan
Coupe, Lead Member of Trust
Development for Trafford Council.
We asked him about the role of
Trusts in the recent heavy reduction
of council budgets for services across
the borough, and specifically the role
of local businesses in that process:
Can you explain how your role in
Trust Development works and what
kind of impact it has to services
across the borough?

Trust Development is an ongoing
process looking at new opportunities
within the community to find
better and more rewarding ways of
administering value for the borough.
It is a way of bringing business,
community and council together to
sustain the provision of leisure and
cultural services that we enjoy in our
everyday lives.”
How does the process work in
creating trusts, and how are they
administered?
“Across Trafford, a key player is the
Trafford Community Leisure Trust
and they have been responsible
for provision of leisure centres and
sports activity across Trafford for
many years. As the funding pressures
faced by the Council continue to
increase, the Council are looking at
expanding the range of methods
available for service provision, and
this may include the expansion of a
Trust model to ensure services remain
high quality and value for money. This
is a key part of the Reshaping Trafford
Council programme.

“The way those services are now
administered has by necessity
become completely different to
previous traditional methods. It’s
now essential that different ways of
funding and administering those
services are found, and it is in this
role of Trust Development that we
can bring together business and
the community to safeguard and
enhance an increasing range of
local services.

“A great example is Trafford
Music Service, which is now run
by the original management
as a new business venture. The
service provides music tuition and
performance opportunities for
schoolchildren across the borough,
and since the service has been cut
loose to generate it’s own funding,
the original management have
started to develop the service in a
positive and focused way ensuring
it’s continued growth. This shows just
how successful the development of
an autonomous organisation can be
in the delivery of essential services
across Trafford, especially when
control is passed to the very people
who have historically managed that
service. This also opens the door to
external business involvement that
wouldn’t normally be included when
run as a strictly council-run service.”

“As well as ensuring the continuity
and support of existing services,

Going back to Trusts, how are they
typically set up and what is the role

“Over the past few years the delivery
of council services have totally
changed. We have to ensure culture,
leisure, sport and indeed all essential
public services continue to be
catered for in spite of the heavy cuts
imposed on all Councils across
the country.

of local business in their structure?
“Trusts are actually businesses in
their own right. A good example is
Trafford Community Leisure Trust,
run by a board which includes two
active Trafford Councillors. The board
needs to ensure the trust is profitable
– with profits re-invested into the
organisation – while at the same
time accountable to the community
mandates adhered to by the Council.
“Another example has a board that
I am trustee on – Stretford Sports
Barn. Although overseen by
the Leisure Trust, the board has
representatives from big business

on board – the LCCC, Manchester United,
Salford Reds, etc. As a Trust, it’s important to
bring local business into the community, and
with the case of Tesco’s recent large store
being built in Old Trafford, an arrangement
was agreed that as a large business moving
into the local community, Tesco would also
invest in the re-development of Old Trafford
Cricket Ground, plus additional investment
into Stretford sports facilities. As a recipient
of that investment, the Trust then ensures
that the sporting facilities are available to
Stretford High school by day, and is then
open to the wider community at evenings
and weekends.”
Now that we’ve established the positive

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December/January 2015

19

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

munity
influence of overseeing some
services through administration by
Trusts, do you see this continuing
as the economy comes out of
recession?

future, I think that by doing things
differently we have the choice and
opportunity as a Council to not just
deliver those services, but to improve
on them.”

“The idea that the level of funding
from Council could ever get back
to levels seen a few years ago is
just simply not tenable. The model
of administering those services
through the development and
implementation of organisations
such as Trusts is very much a positive
development from a very bleak
period of austerity, and even as we
look to a more favourable economic

Jonathan Coupe has been a local
Councillor for over 15 years and
most of that time has served on the
Executive Committee. Currently Lead
Member for Trust Development,
Jonathan has always tempered
his Council duties with running a
successful family owned Kitchen
design and installation business
called the Kitchen Gallery, based in
the heart of Timperley village.

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20

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

focus

There’s a bright new light coming
through the North West’s clouds and its
heading straight for your business
Recent improvements in connectivity
in the North West have opened the
door for SME’s in the region to look
for new and better ways to manage
their IT infrastructure both hosted and
in-house.
Until now companies could be
dealing with anything up to 5 different
providers, for e-mail, telephony,
connectivity, maintenance and back
up. A situation that costs both time and
money that businesses can ill afford.
All that, with no guarantees that these
providers themselves, can or will work
responsibly together.
The key to good business is simplicity.
That’s where Synextra comes in.
Synextra can provide every user with a

seamless service across voice over IP,
infrastructure, connectivity, data back
up and support for a single fixed fee
from a single, user friendly provider.
Synextra’s MD Chris Piggott says:
“We set up Synextra with the sole
intention of helping business owners
compete in an ever more complex
technological world by simplifying their
IT infrastructure requirements using
our own blend of unique technology
products.
“Products that make everything
from simple telecommunications
to maintenance and IT support, to
virtual filing and storage in their own
in-office cloud a seamless hassle-free
operation.”

Synextra’s SmartStac blend of
advanced technologies can deliver
shared cloud, public cloud, on-site
infrastructure or all three, enabling
SME’s to tailor their IT requirements to
fit their business model. Advances that
make hosted IT affordable for even the
smallest business.

Synextra are a totally unique provider
of end to end IT services from desk
top level through on-site servers,
networking and connectivity. With
SmartStac technology, SME’s can now
have the peace of mind of never being
caught out by problems with multiple
service providers, so enabling them to
focus on their core business.

A hybrid cloud in your own office?

For more information and contact
details go to www.synextra.co.uk
or call 0161 883 1383

Synextra can deploy a hybrid cloud
in your own work environment, giving
your business all the benefits of a
global, public cloud, freeing up your
business hardware and software to
work more efficiently, saving time
and money on filing and storage, all
protected by a replica off-site system
hosted in Synextra’s own facility.

Castle Keep Law
Castle Keep Law has been
providing legal services as part
of the One Advice Group since
it was granted its ABS license in
December of 2013. Their mission
is to provide quality, professional
services at competitive rates,
delivered in a way that’s
approachable and flexible to meet
the needs of modern customers.
Currently on offer is 30 minutes
free legal advice over the
phone to individuals locally and
nationally that may need support
in a variety of legal situations.

an expanding workforce, having
recently moved from Sale Point.

As a business, they are keen to
be involved with and contribute
to the local community, including
being part of various Business in
the Community initiatives.

Dominic
Timmons

That’s worth about £100 and the
firm are hoping it encourages
people to tap in to their expert
knowledge as it can really make a
difference to the outcome.
The first 30 minutes is free
and should people need
further assistance, there’s a
comprehensive suite of services
available at competitive rates.
Where certain legal services
cannot be provided because they
are particularly specialist, or niche,
Castle Keep Law have established
relationships with experts in those
areas, so potential customers can
be referred quickly.

Director Dominic Timmons, has
volunteered to mentor students
at Trafford College, and with two
teenage sons of his own, he’s well
qualified.

Customer service is key, and staff
are approachable, professional
and friendly, plus the advice
on offer is wide ranging - from
resolving landlord or employment
disputes to advising about a
wide range of commercial and
consumer issues.

Various mutually beneficial
partnerships have been set up
with local retailers, so that the
600 staff in the Group are
encouraged to use independent
retailers, services and eateries
- the aim being to keep wages
within the local economy. Similarly,
staff events are organised with
local establishments in mind, from
going to local pub quizzes to
housing Christmas market stalls at
our Winter Wonderland staff party.

Castle Keep Law now has offices
in Jackson House, Sale, to house

As part of the One Advice Group,
whose customer base is primarily

those in debt or experiencing
insolvency, they know the
importance of financial education,
and the enormous affect money
problems can have on people’s
lives. That’s why Castle Keep
Law has invested in a team
that specialises in representing
customers in all types of creditor
actions, including preventing
County Court judgments, dealing
with enforcement applications,
and bailiff issues.
They also know how admitting
to and discussing financial
problems with a professional can
make a difference to a person’s
outlook and physical and mental
wellbeing. That’s why Castle
Keep Law is also partnering with
PeopleValue staff motivation
and rewards, to promote staff
wellbeing and welfare, and are
looking to partner with other
businesses in the future.

As a Director of Castle Keep Law,
Dominic Timmons brings nearly 20
years experience to the role, which
he shares and uses to drive the
ethos behind the business: “The
industry must be entirely customer
driven” he explains, “and lawyers
need to understand customers’
needs and demands, then be
able to service them, rather than
expecting customers to simply
accept a level of service and cost
which is unattractive.”

My Care Claim
Castle Keep Law has a dedicated
team focusing on health and
social care advice for the elderly,

Kerry
Blackhurst

headed up by Director and Solicitor
Kerry Blackhurst.
Kerry’s capability in the field has been
recognised as a featured expert in
the Independent on Sunday and by
her membership of the independent,
national organisation Solicitors for
the Elderly.
Kerry and her team can advise on a
number of issues affecting elderly
people and their families, ensuring they
receive the care and funding which
they are entitled to. Castle Keep Law is
currently seeking to recover £7m worth
of financial support which should have
been provided to its clients by the NHS
and Local Authorities.
A recent survey by the CIPD and
Simplyhealth has shown over a third
of employers have reported a rise in
absenteeism due to caring duties,
with an estimated three million people
balancing their job and looking after a
loved one. Every year, around 20,000
families sell their homes to pay for a
relative to receive care – it’s thought
around three quarters of over 65’s
will enter the care system and in
many cases, this should be funded

by the NHS or Local Authority.
Castle Keep Law is also now
supporting The Generation Project
which seeks to reduce loneliness
and social isolation amongst
elderly residents of Wythenshawe,
and will be hosting regular
coffee mornings and promoting
befriending initiatives.
In addition staff chose Forever
Manchester as their charity of
the year. Staff members have
taken part in amazing fundraising
activities including 10k runs, long
distance cycles, baking days and
even abseiling down the side of
the Printworks.
Kerry commented: “The
department was initially set up to
assist members of the public to
reclaim privately paid care home
fees which should have been
funded by the state. However
we have since built up a wealth
of experience on a wide range
of community care issues and
complaints regarding the care
received by elderly people.

23

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

We are absolutely committed
to protecting the rights of this
vulnerable sector of our community
and providing valuable professional
help to those in need.”

Darren Smith leads FCS, and his
experience as a successful senior
consultant has been instrumental
in the development and consistent
progression of the business.

Financial Claim
Services (FCS)

As with all of the trading styles
within Castle Keep Law, Financial
Claim Services is regulated by the
Solicitors Regulation Authority
(SRA), so they are bound by high
standards of professional conduct.

Darren
Smith

Financial Claim Services (FCS) is
devoted to reclaiming money for
those who have been mis-sold
financial and insurance products.

FCS have won back over £14m
in PPI claims for almost 5,000
customers, and research shows
that there is over £10bn that has
yet to be claimed. The average
claim amount is £2,900 – which
many see as a nice windfall, to
go towards a holiday, to pay
off existing debts or to put into
savings as a financial safety net.
Though not as widely publicised,
many paid-for bank accounts
have also been mis-sold. Often,
customers were told that there
was no free banking option, or
were paying the fee for insurance
products that were of no use to

them. FCS also has expertise in
these claims, and their largest fee
reclaim to date is £3,800.
To retain a fair and competitive
edge, the team operate on a
“no win, no fee” basis, so
customers can be confident
they are working as quickly and
efficiently as possible.
There is often a lot of confusion
around how to approach a claim
with a financial provider or bank,
and many people have concerns
about disrupting a current
agreement if the customer is
still with the provider. Financial
Claim Services advisers manage
every stage of the process, so it’s
a hassle-free way for claimants
to ensure they claim back the
maximum amount that they are
entitled to.

We offer 30 minutes of free over the phone legal advice
and case assessment. We have a number of friendly, expert
advisers who specialise in a variety of legal issues, waiting to
respond to your needs.
• Matters of general dispute

• Employment Matters

• Consumer law

• Landlord and Tenant Issues

• Contract Disputes

• Care Home Assessments,

• Faulty Goods

If you’d like to offer free 30
minutes legal support to your
staff and customer base, why
not get in touch...

Fees and Refunds.

• Debt Recovery
• Creditor Enforcement Issues

Experience our fresh, modern

• Personal Injury

approach and friendly legal

• Wills and Probate

support...
includes specialist team

For more information call:

0330 102 0110

or visit: www.castlekeeplaw.co.uk

And member of:

24

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

focus
L-R Andrew Bennie, Richard Gadd, Ben Roberts

Brooks Macdonald

Asset Management

Brooks Macdonald Asset
Management Ltd (BMAM) is a
private client investment manager
specialising in managing the wealth
of private clients, trusts, charities
and pension funds.
They are part of Brooks Macdonald
Group plc, an AIM-listed, integrated
wealth management group.
BMAM strongly believe in
offering a personalised service,
combining traditional values
with a sophisticated investment
management process.
Since formation in 1991, the Group
has grown significantly, expanding
from offices in Park Street, London,
to a further eight locations
throughout the UK.
The Manchester office opened
in mid 2007, with a team of three
investment managers, led by Claire
Bennison, Regional Director. 2011
saw a move to new premises in
Manchester city centre and today
the team numbers ten, with five
investment managers, two business
development and three executive
support staff.
Claire is supported by Ben Roberts,
Investment Management Director,
who holds a Masters in Wealth
Management; Investment Manager
Andrew Bennie, who heads up the
Manchester Young Professionals
networking group and is involved in
a number of charitable events; and
Richard Gadd, Investment Team
Director, who is a founding member
of the Manchester office and a
Fellow of The Chartered Institute for
Securities & Investment (CISI).
As a business they aim to put the
client at the heart of everything
they do, and client relationships are
long-term. They see the process
as a journey, ensuring changing

investment objectives are met
throughout their clients’ lifespans
and for their next generations.
BMAM work closely with their
private clients, charities, and
trusts to ensure that their tailored
approach is appropriate to their
client’s needs. This is achieved by
working closely with their partners,
such as professional advisers,
solicitors and accountants.

Consistent,
long-term returns
BMAM has been a leader in
developing innovative products
that meet their clients’ needs in
the longer term. Individual tailored
portfolios are designed to provide
optimal risk-adjusted returns on a
longer-term basis.
This can be achieved by considering
a diversified range of asset classes
and investment vehicles, and by
managing a composite portfolio
that maintains exposure to the
best direct investments and
fund managers within each asset
class. The technical expertise
and knowledge of investment
managers are harnessed to provide
investment solutions to their clients’
investment objectives.
Clients generally remark not only on
the “grand returns the investment
strategy is producing” but also on
BMAM’s “impeccable service” and
“calm professionalism”.

Industry recognition
and awards
BMAM have won a variety of awards
for both investment management
and investment performance,
ranging from the title of Best
Discretionary Fund Manager at the
2014 Professional Adviser Awards to

being the first investment manager
to be awarded a 5 Star Rating on
each of their core services by the
independent financial researcher
Defaqto.
The Group has also been named
one of the ‘100 Best (Medium)
Companies to Work For’ by The
Sunday Times. This award, based on
responses from Brooks Macdonald
employees, is recognition of the
strong values and principles the
company is run on.

Charitable giving
BMAM have always prided
themselves on their culture of
charitable giving. In 2010, a
company-wide employee vote saw
the group establish a Charitable
Trust, called the Brooks Macdonald
Foundation.
Key recent fundraising projects
have included the “Coast to Coast
Challenge”, consisting of a bike
ride from Blackpool to Scarborough
in an effort to raise over £3,000 for
the Barnardo’s School in Yorkshire
and Fields of Life, and “The
Sunshine Coach Project” to support
Variety, a charity for sick, disabled
and disadvantaged children.
Staff are supported by the
Foundation in their own charitable
endeavours. In September 2009,
Manchester office leader Claire
swam the English Channel for the
Nema Foundation, and has more
recently completed the super six
challenge solo.
They are also delighted to be part
of the Manchester Million club,
initiated by the Forever Manchester
foundation. The charity is renowned
for supporting community projects
across Greater Manchester and
aims to raise £1 million per year
from companies based in the area.

Supporting the
local area
Since opening the Manchester
office, BMAM have hired staff
from the local area. This is part
of their effort to support the area
they work in and provide the best
possible service to their clients.
Their support for the local
community also extends to the
sponsorship of events such as
the Manchester Jazz Festival
and founding the Manchester
Young Professionals group,
a social network set up by
Andrew Bennie in May 2013
which is now approaching 900
LinkedIn members. The group
has organised a number of well
attended events, most recently at
Lucha Libre in July. The Christmas
event will be held on Wednesday
10 December.
BMAM ensure they maintain the
high quality of their service to
clients as well as their professional
introducers. They have built a
strong reputation throughout
the UK and hope to continue
growing their business across
the North West.

If you would like to find out more
please call 0161 861 4110 or visit
www.brooksmacdonald.com/am

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The value of investments and the income from them can fluctuate
and it is possible that investors may not get back the amount invested.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance and may not
be repeated.
Brooks Macdonald Asset Management is authorised and regulated
by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Registered in England No 3417519.
Company Registered Office: 111 Park Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 7JL

26

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

comment

Greater
Manchester
looks to the future
The Midland Hotel was the venue
on 16 October for an informative
business lunch hosted by business
development organisation
pro-manchester.

remained the same at £22-23billion.
Sir Howard started his speech with
a review over the last 12 months:
“A lot has happened in Manchester
since our last annual lunch.
Notably we’ve completed work
on the new academy around the
Etihad Stadium, and I’m personally
pleased to note that Manchester
City Football Club have become
members of pro-Manchester!
Also started was construction on
the Metrolink 2nd city crossing
development across the city.

In his trademark ‘straight to the
point’ address Sir Howard focused
on advances in the city over the
past twelve months including
developments at The Etihad
stadium and East Manchester, the
extension to the Metrolink system
and what he called ‘remarkable
progress’ in the aim to create
greater rail connectivity from East
to West.
The main focus of his address
however was the future for
Manchester. Never one to dwell
on the past for long he outlined
his vision for the next twelve
months, championing the cause for
devolution, and the fact that skills
shortages in many major cities are
a result of being unable to develop
their own business support models.
He suggested we currently have to
rely on national models which are
falling far short.
Public sector spending was also
on the agenda with the statement
that despite obvious local authority
cutbacks, spending for Manchester

“We’ve almost completed
development of First Street which
has progressed at a remarkable
rate. The Universities and
Hospitals have enjoyed increased
development, and Manchester
Science Park has bought Alderley
Park in Cheshire – so crucial in
driving our life science activities.

‘‘

“Construction on Airport City

is underway with a Chinese-led
consortium of key investors,
and we’ve announced one of
the biggest housing schemes in
memory with the development
of 830 new homes in the East
of the City.

“We’ve come a long way in
12 months, and I think the sense
of business confidence, and the
greater levels of liquidity gives us
a platform for cautious optimism,
and over the next 12 months we’ll
see even more activity and
strong growth.
“There are two principal events
that have developed over the last
12 months that will shape our city
over the next decade.
“We all know of HS2 and the
advantages it will bring the region,
but what we need to look at are
the East-West connections. Over

the last several months we’ve seen
remarkable progress with this. Not just
business and political leaders, but with
a really strong platform of a new
approach to transport planning that is
vitally important in our city. If you go
anywhere in Europe and start to address
what makes cities successful you’ll see
that connectivity is at the heart of
that success.

“The way in which we have planned
transport over the past 20-30 years has
not been good. We’ve seen new port
facilities being built in Liverpool which
had not been connected particularly
well to the motorway or freight system.
Essentially we’ve not seen a holistic
approach to transport planning across all
nodes to enable Liverpool, Manchester,
Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and Newcastle to
be properly connected. The Chancellor’s
speech a few months ago regarding the
‘Northern Powerhouse’ – the way in which

You cannot reform public services at a national level - this is about
how we make public services more sustainable for all. We have an
opportunity to drive a strong and vibrant devolution agenda and the role the
business community can play in this cannot be overstated.

the Government has now embraced
what we describe as the ‘One North’
proposition – I think is extremely
significant indeed.
“The next big item of course is
devolution. The general awareness of
this seemed to be on the back of the
Scottish vote. However, these recent
events only brought to the surface what
many of us knew already, which is that
the Whitehall model is ‘bust’. If you
think of housing, skills, business support
and in particular transport - these are
all key elements of a strong, integrated
and coherent economic strategy - you
will see how national delivery models
consistently fail.
“There are skill deficits in all our cities.
We’re not building the numbers of
houses that we need because the
policies that are developed at a national
level are not responsive to the needs
and priorities of housing markets in
places like Manchester. We’re currently
not able to develop our own business
support models. We have to follow
national policies, so therefore the
particular needs of our own
business space are not met.
There are many examples of
how those national delivery
models do not meet
our needs.
“The difference now is that
this problem is being
increasingly recognised at
a national level, and we now
have a chance to drive a strong
and vibrant devolution agenda
for the benefit of Greater
Manchester over the coming
months. This is a challenge for not
just this government but for all the
main political parties.
“What this means is that it’s not
just a quick fix. There are many
years of working new legislation
into place. However, there are things
we can do now around skills, business
support and transport, plus health and
social care is extremely important. We
are looking to establish new legislation
on those areas, and it is crucially
important that organisations like

pro-manchester are involved. Not
just local authorities and political
leaders should have influence on
how things develop, but the wider
business community needs to start
representing our perspective over
the changes to come.
“Four years ago we were spending
£22-23 billion per year. This

accounted for
not just local
government
expenditure but
all public sector
spending in Greater
Manchester. Even
with austerity measures
applied this figure is still
the same today, and this
goes to show you cannot achieve
reductions and make changes in
the way public sector are reformed
at national level. This can only be
effectively addresses at a local level.
“So this is not just about how we
make Manchester more productive
and competitive economically, this
is about how we make Manchester
financially self-sustainable.”

pro-manchester is a
corporate membership
organisation representing
the 240,000 employed in the
financial and professional
service community in and
around Greater Manchester.
Boasting more than 300
corporate member firms,
pro-manchester engages
with over 5,000 individuals.
For more details call 0161
833 0964 or email: admin@
pro-manchester.co.uk

28

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

comment

Forever Manch
Many of Manchester’s most
successful and forward thinking
businesses descended on iconic
restaurant and bar, Manchester
House on the evening of Monday 6
October for an exclusive invitation
only event, as Greater Manchester’s
Community Foundation Forever
Manchester unveiled important
research on corporate social
responsibility and citizenship.
Spinningfields offered the perfect
destination and Manchester House
(which opened last year) provided
an exciting venue (along with drinks
and a great selection of canapés)
for the launch of RESET – Forever
Manchester’s latest campaign
aimed at Greater Manchester’s
business community.
The research at the heart of
the RESET campaign has been
produced by the UK’s leading
independent charitable research
and member organisation,
think tank CLES (the Centre for
Local Economic Strategies), and
demonstrates that for every £1
invested by Forever Manchester in
local communities across Greater
Manchester there is a social return
of £4.11 on investment. The findings
also explore the enormous potential
benefits if the approach were to be
multiplied across the region.
Sponsored by BDO and the E-word,
over 100 guests attended the

Simon Webber,
Forever Manchester Chairman

‘‘

event and heard from Phil Jones
- Managing Director of Brother UK
and Forever Manchester President,
CLES Chief Executive, Neil McInroy
and Nick Massey, Chief Executive of
Forever Manchester.
Simon Webber, Forever
Manchester’s Chairman warmed
up proceedings: “I’m absolutely
delighted that Phil Jones has joined
us as President, particularly in this
our 25th year. A year that we have
coupled an absolute clarity of
purpose with a real momentum,
and I am convinced that this will
combine to achieve something
really important and lasting that will
bring a real change to our city. With
Phil as President I have no doubt
that the next few years will be very
exciting for Forever Manchester.”
President Phil Jones then took
to the mike: “We’ve put this
event together primarily from
a conversation I had with Nick
Massey that highlighted a massive
communication problem. The
issue was in bringing the amazing
work that Forever Manchester
does to the attention of the wider
community, particularly the wider
business community.
“We found that when asked, people
had heard of Forever Manchester,
but didn’t know exactly what we
did. This ‘disconnect’ needed to
be addressed. We had to ‘RESET’

Neil McInroy,
CLES Chief Executive

Nick Massey,
Forever Manchester
Chief Executive

the messaging, especially in terms of the
business audience.
“One of the principle reasons I accepted
to be President of Forever Manchester
was that I felt we are on the dawn of a new
age in the way that business looks at it’s
citizenship and it’s talent, recruitment and
retention strategies. When I talk about
this I highlight the difference between
enlightened and unenlightened business
leaders. There are many organisations still
working to the old paradigm of pyramids,
exercising command and control in a
structure that doesn’t nurture internal
communications within that organisation.
This means the people within that
structure are not passionate about what
they do, and certainly don’t feel they are
making a difference.
“When you look at purpose-driven
businesses it is this distinction that
becomes crucial. They are recruiting
the very best talent, and will continue
to do this into the future. When talking
to business leaders there is one main
attribute that they, as an organisation
aspire to - that is agility. In order to be
agile they must recruit the very best and
the very talented. Those leaders talk
about retention, recruitment and high
performers, and in my view, you cannot be
an agile business unless you have people
within it (and stay with it) who have the
capability of being agile. These people
are highly valued, they work on purpose,
and they are extremely motivated giving
everything to their business. It’s not until

It’s my aim to ensure everyone knows and understands the role of Forever
Manchester. It’s my aim to ‘RESET’ this, and create an understanding that
there’s a new culturally intelligent organisational model, and that if you want to be one
of those leading, enlightened businesses, Forever Manchester would be an organisation
that you could connect with to bring meaningful change to your local communities.

‘‘

Phil Jones, Forever Manchester President

December/January 2015

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

29

hester helps businesses
RESET their thinking
you build a workplace community
with these key people in place that an
organisation can be truly agile.
“Agility and purpose within a business
means results are gained through
the application of those values at a
cultural level. This is where the act of
giving within your own community
in my opinion is changing. It has
become investing – investing in
communities, investing in people who
live in those communities, because
that is where your top talent can be
found. On your doorstep. Right now.
It’s the combination of people, place
and purpose that a forward thinking
business can both be part of and
benefit at many levels.
“As business leaders, we can already
see some of the big changes and
challenges happening in employee
engagement, organisational citizenship
and business agility. We all know
that it’s no longer just about what an
organisation does, but how it aligns its
purpose with its people.
“Corporate citizenship, employee
engagement and talent management
are three important pillars of future
performance and competitiveness,
and Forever Manchester can help in
bringing those components to life in
your business.”
Neil McInroy, Chief Executive for CLES,
then expanded on the results of the
research: “At CLES, we are particularly
interested in Forever Manchester’s
work, because I do believe in a policy
of RESET, and how we think ourselves
and our communities grow, and the
role of local business in that process.
“I’m interested in new forms of
business citizenship which invest in
people. I get very tired of the reference
to ‘them and us’. In my opinion there
are only us, and it’s up to us as a whole
to make sure everyone, and especially
the less fortunate in this region, do
well. I’m excited by the idea that those
most in need can receive not just a
handout in the traditional sense but
instead get a hand up. A sense of
investment directly in local citizens
to help them help themselves. It’s

the analogy of not giving fish but
instead a fishing rod, and that in a
sense is what Forever Manchester
are all about.”
Chief Executive Nick Massey then
talked about the role of Forever
Manchester and the value it brings
to the thousands of community
projects it supports across Greater
Manchester: “Most of us, after
we finish work and travel home to
return to our own communities,
have something in common
regardless of the sort of area we
live in. Weather its a prosperous
neighbourhood or not doesn’t
matter, affluence and wealth may
sound good, but ultimately it’s
happiness that people strive for,
and this can be achieved in a sense
of community and belonging.
“So, Forever Manchester support
volunteer-led community groups,
which mean local people, like
you and I, creating good within
communities. These aren’t charities,
they are locally-led, grass roots
groups of people who want to
make a difference in their own
communities. They haven’t got
celebrity sponsors or big marketing
budgets, and that’s where we come
in. We are experts at making sure
money gets into the places it’s
needed most. We connect people
with projects, we connect projects
with purpose, and we give people
a sense of belonging to their local
communities.
“We’ve carried a phrase with us
for a long time now: ‘Helping local
people do extraordinary things
together’. These are communities
where we live and work, and where
our families, friends and colleagues
live and work. Together we can
build a real power for change, and
develop a legacy of competent
citizens across Greater Manchester.
“It’s estimated that around 600,000
people are living in poverty across
the region, so there’s no doubt that
there are problems and a lot of
needs that need to be addressed

in our local neighbourhoods, but
there are also a lot of talented
local people, who as well as having
problems have skills, talents,
resources and passion. It’s time to
look at what’s strong - not what’s
wrong.”
Phil Jones then summed up the
evening: “When you look at giving,
most people think about causebased charities, benefitting specific
areas. What Forever Manchester
can do is deliver across every welldeserving cause. Also, it doesn’t
matter where you or your business
are located, Forever Manchester
covers all areas of the ten boroughs
of Greater Manchester. So, no
matter what the cause, or the
location, Forever Manchester
can deliver that help and support,
and has been doing so for the last
25 years.”
“It’s my aim to ensure everyone
knows and understands the role
of Forever Manchester. It’s my
aim to ‘RESET’ this, and create an

Bringing the
RESET
message to
Greater
Manchester’s
Business
Community.
Nick Massey
and Phil Jones
presents a credible
business model
for corporate
citizenship that
will support local
communities and
make a real difference
to the entire region.

understanding that there’s a new
culturally intelligent organisational
model, and that if you want to be
one of those leading, enlightened
businesses, Forever Manchester
would be an organisation that
you could connect with to bring
meaningful change to your local
communities.”
The RESET event marked the start
of a year long campaign, which sees
Forever Manchester aiming to raise
an additional £1million to support
grass roots community activity
through support from Manchester’s
business community.

For further information please contact:
Jean Mills, Business Development
on 0161 214 0955 or by email
jean@forevermanchester.com

30

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

report

100 Club
rises to the
‘‘

The

A new business networking forum
kicks off at Sale FC Rugby Club

As a magazine we tend to gravitate
to businesses and organisations
who offer regular opportunities
to do networking. We are regular
supporters and partners of promanchester and Forever Manchester,
both of which run regular business
networking events. We are also
aligned with Greater Manchester
Chamber of Commerce, and of
course in association with innov8

sponsor the yearly Trafford Business
Expo. Our support of networking
and business events also involves
SaleFC Rugby Club, who, under new
Chief Executive Mike Jefferson, have
made a conscious jump into the
corporate arena in what is turning
out to be a very successful way to
raise the profile of the club. Mike has
started to bring many larger local
businesses on board, and has just
recently brought back City Centre
Insurance Brokers Caunce O’Hara
as main sponsors, along with a host
of other businesses in an ongoing
show of corporate support of
the club.
In a conversation with Mike, an
opportunity arose to get involved
with local charity the Alex Hulme
Foundation. This charity has been
running for a few years, and was

set up in the memory of Alex by his
parents Dave and Nicola Hulme,
plus aunt Brenda Jackson. The
foundation supports cutting edge
research into the devastating form
of childhood cancer that young Alex
died from in 2011 at the age of 12.
To support the foundation Mike had
an idea to host a themed corporate
networking event, and from there
the concept of the ‘100 Club’ was
developed. The aim was to put on
a Friday afternoon business dinner,
offering a relaxed and entertaining
event that over 100 local business
people would attend. This was
firstly to raise money for a well-

deserving charity, and also to bring
businesses together – something
we couldn’t fail to ignore! So, the
event was organised primarily
by Mike Jefferson and Brad
McBride (Cartridge World Sale and
Timperley), both on behalf of Sale
FC, and of course the Alex Hulme
Foundation themselves.
Trafford Business Connect of course
stepped forward as sponsors,
and on the afternoon of Friday
14 November over 100 business
leaders arrived at Sale FC. For the
first hour or so everyone enjoyed a
relaxed drink at the bar and a great
opportunity to network. From there
we took our seats for what turned
out to be a great afternoon of
entertainment.
Hosted by Eamonn O’Neal we were
treated to a delicious three course

It was both a privilege and a pleasure to attend the
recent 100 Club Dinner as a guest of the Alex Hulme
Foundation Charity. In September 2011 Alex Hulme lost his battle
against Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma at just 12 years old. Alex’s parents,
Dave and Nicola, have not rested since losing their beloved son and
set up the Alex Hulme Foundation.

Through their devoted efforts, in a very short period of time, they have
made a major contribution to support research into this terrible illness in
Children – which is not currently funded – and in doing so have provided
a lasting legacy to honour Alex. This is a truly amazing Charity.

‘‘

Perhaps the one thing that defines
Trafford Business Connect is a
commitment to business networking.
As it says on our disclaimer we
are ‘connecting businesses across
Manchester’.

Theresa Grant Chief Executive, Trafford Council

lunch followed by one of Oldham’s
most famous sons, Rugby League
legend Barrie McDermott, who was
an inspirational as well as highly
entertaining after dinner speaker.
The Rugby theme was an obvious
link as we were guests of Sale FC
Rugby Club, with a few players in
the audience enjoying the event.
Sam Tuitupou from Sale Sharks, Rob
Parker and Chairman John Roddy
from Leigh Centurions were in
attendance, as well as a host of local
businesses and organisations.
Tables were taken by Sale FC main
sponsors Caunce O’Hara Insurance
Brokers, Carlsberg, MediaCom,
Altrincham & Sale Chamber of
Commerce, ‘Me and my Mates’
Business Directory, plus two tables
for local business networking group
Timperley and Sale Business Club,

not forgetting ourselves with two full
tables.
There was also Trafford Council’s Chief
Executive Theresa Grant, ex-mayor and
Alex Hulme Foundation Patron Councillor
Jane Baugh, and current Trafford Mayor
Ejaz Malik supporting the event.
There were a number of thankyou’s
made throughout the afternoon, with a
notable acknowledgement of the recent
cross-channel swim by local IFA David
Randall of DJ Financial Solutions, who
was thwarted after a valiant attempt by
terrible weather, but still managed to raise
a fantastic amount of funds donated to
the Foundation.
After the meal and the speeches came
some serious money raising activity in
the form of a raffle and auction, with all
proceeds going to the Foundation. The
raffle prizes included a free quarter page

31

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

top of the league
David Randall receiving a thankyou gift from the Alex
Hulme Foundation in a presentation
by Mayor Ejaz Malik

‘‘
“

What a fantastic event which, not only raised an amazing £3408.30 towards helping the
Foundation meet it’s aims, but also enabled us to offer a formal thank you to David Randall
for his sponsored channel swim attempt and to the many people and businesses who have helped us
achieve so much in such a short time. We feel privileged to have been able to provide a vehicle for local
organisations to come together and develop business opportunities.

‘‘

All of this would not have been possible without the organisational skills of Mike Jefferson and Brad
McBride, the fantastic team at Sale FC and the support of Trafford Business Connect. We owe a massive
debt of gratitude to everyone who helped make this a day to remember.

Eamonn O’Neal

Dave Hulme Chair of Trustees, Alex Hulme Foundation

Dave Hulme

Barrie McDermott

advert in this magazine (won by Andy
Garner from Mobile Marketing), plus
a year’s Zest fitness membership
from Trafford Community Leisure
Trust, a photography voucher from
Venture Rochdale, a signed Ricky
Hatton autobiography from Reddish
Joinery, a meal voucher from
Aamchi Mumbai in Cheadle and
Champagne from Councillor
Jane Baugh.
The auction prizes consisted
of a pair of flights to Dubai
offered by All About Flights,
a signed Fran Cotton framed
photo from Sale FC, an
overnight spa break courtesy of

EliteProRugby.com, a signed Sale
Sharks shirt from the team, and
two large, framed BBC World Cup
prints signed by BBC commentators
and donated by ex Sale FC coach
Anthony Hodge. These were won by
Adrian Stewart of Caunce O’Hara,
and immediately given as a surprise
gift to Alex Hulme’s brother Matt.
Of the many highlights of the
afternoon one detail that stood
out was the slick organisation, plus
the fantastic décor of the venue
that made the whole event feel
rather special. Many thanks go to
Mike Jefferson and Brad McBride
for this, and once the dust has

settled it certainly feels that Sale FC
Rugby Club is starting to make a
big corporate shout to make itself
heard amongst the local business
community.
For further information about the Alex
Hulme Foundation please contact:
Dave Hulme, Chair of Trustees
on 0161 973 1343 or by email
info@alexhulmefoundation.co.uk
For further information about Sale FC
Rugby Club please contact:
Mike Jefferson, Chief Executive
on 0161 610 0400 or by email
mjeffo100@gmail.com

report
The Trafford Pledge score
Since it’s launch in July this year,
following the success of pilot
scheme the Partington Pledge, this
was the 2nd event welcoming new
businesses aboard.
In attendance were Director Gary
Neville and Managing Director
Stuart Procter from GG Hospitality,
parent company of the new £23m,
133 room Hotel Football which is
due to open at the end of 2014.
Hotel Football were a recent boost
to the ever-growing list of businesses
signing up for the Trafford Pledge,
and they confirmed they were
offering 200 new jobs, many of which
are available to local, unemployed
young people in Trafford.
Gary and Stuart then gave a talk to
the students in attendance, and also
took part in a question and answer
session with the young people who
had just completed a two week
‘Big Hit’ employability training
programme run by Trafford College.
When asked to describe the role
of Hotel Football in supporting
opportunities for young, local
unemployed people Gary said: “We
want to offer a business where we
can breed loyalty and develop a
culture where people stay with us
for a long time. If we can train young
people to understand our culture
and what we need then we can offer
them a pathway to the very top of
our organisation.
“Young people have to see a
pathway, and reflecting back to my
experience with Sir Alex Ferguson
who was my Manager for 20 years –

with support from MUFC’s finest

he promised us that if we were good
enough we would get a chance. He
stuck to that word and he promoted
us, while at the same time moving
and selling much more highly
experienced players, giving us the
opportunity to come through. Over
15 years there were 5 or 6 of us who
come through the process – we were
best mates who played for United.
“Looking at the Hotel which will be
open in the next few months, it will
be great to get a group of young
people who can start at the very
beginning with us and develop their
skills and increase their abilities
while they grow with us – that would
be our best story as we do want
people to stay with us for a long
time. It’s the only way we believe we
can achieve stability in the business.
Changing people all the time
doesn’t work, so Stuart and his team
are looking out for talented young
people. People who want to work
hard, have a good attitude and are
willing to take the opportunities that
we want to offer them.”

always been committed to recruiting
locally and funding young people
through their training. The benefits
to our business of developing local
talent are immense. By signing
up to the Trafford Pledge we are
re-affirming our belief in giving
opportunities to local young
people.”
As well as signing the Pledge, the
businesses were also on hand to

‘‘

and personal development.
After the graduation ceremony a
jobs fair took place to match young
people with job opportunities.
The Pledge is an exciting
Trafford-wide initiative which
matches businesses offering jobs,
apprenticeships, work experience
or mentoring, with unemployed
local young people. It’s growing
from strength to strength with more

We have recruited young people locally, some
with criminal records, for many years now and
they have contributed enormously to the growth and
development of SIS.
They show great loyalty and we are proud of their achievements.
We feel that the Trafford Pledge is a positive step forward and hope more
employers take advantage of this excellent opportunity.
David Child Sale Insurance Services Ltd (SIS)

‘‘

Businesses big and small made
their commitment to support young
unemployed people by signing the
Trafford Pledge at Trafford College’s
successful ‘Big Hit’ event on 24
October at Emirates Old Trafford.

Gary Neville and Stuart Procter

Gary then took part in the
graduation ceremony presenting
certificates and posing with all
the graduates.
Cargills, Community Change
Foundation, Controlled Event
Solutions, Davey’s Chemist, the
new Hotel Football, L’Oreal,
McDonalds, Right at Home, Sale
Insurance Services Ltd, Sale Sharks,
Unilever, Wates Living Space, Whistl,
Advanced Hall Sensors’ and Vickers
Electronics all signed the Pledge.
Mark Ravenscroft from Vickers
Electronics observed: “We have

support the success of the latest
group of unemployed young people
to complete the two week ‘Big Hit’
employability training programme.
Through a combination of preemployment training and work
experience within local businesses,
the Big Hit provides the chance
for 18 to 24 year olds to build
confidence, boost their motivation

businesses and more young people
being matched.
Anyone wanting more information
about the Trafford Pledge can
visit the Council’s website at
www.trafford.gov.uk/business/
trafford-pledge; contact the
team on 0161 912 4176; or email
traffordpledge@outlook.com

33

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

social media
Classic Social

Media
Marketing Fails for Start-up Businesses

In my hometown I see a lot of
Start-up Businesses open, and like
many towns I see a lot closing less
than a year later.
The official business failure statistics
vary depending on which report you
read but range from Theo Paphitis
stating: “50% of all small businesses
fail in the first couple of years” to
figures as high as “eight out of 10
entrepreneurs who start businesses
will fail in the first 18 months”.
Whilst there are many variables and
reasons a business fails, marketing
in its many forms plays a large part
in a business’s success.
Here we look at some of the classic
Social Media marketing fails of
Start-up businesses:

The Hare
You may remember the story of the
tortoise and the hare. The hare is
one of the many flawed personality
traits of a start-up business.
You’ll hear about the business ran
by the hare – because they all go
in a few weeks after the business
launches.
The signs often look like the
business will be a major success
and then the moment the business
opens they get tired, drop their
pace down after the early significant
sprint and start to lose that
earlier traction.
Remember the hare never did win
the race – consistency counts – so
look at the skill set of the tortoise.

The Late Starter
The late starter knows the
importance of Social Media, but
doesn’t have the knowledge or the
inclination to start using it when
they are launching their business.
They say to themselves Social
Media is something that they will
look at in a few months after the
business has launched.
They tend to have the belief that
word of mouth will work organically,
and when that doesn’t work they
tend to go down the traditional
route of newspaper adverts. When
that doesn’t work immediately, they

will often go down the discount
voucher route.
By the time it comes around to
trying that “bolt on” of Social
Media they often find it’s too late
to make the turn around before the
2nd big rent and rates bill comes in.

The Poor Distributor
The Poor distributor is a relatively
new character on the start-up scene.
The Poor Distributor actually has
great content – they understand
what works in terms of content from
how they use Social Media on a
personal level.
In many ways they understand
the nuances of the social media
platforms and understand what sort
of images and text updates work
across each platform.
What they suffer from is generating
that traction with an actual
audience, and months later you
look back and think - if only this
business had 700 quality followers
rather than 70 followers 6 months
after opening - the business would
be a huge success.
Quality is key for social media but having an audience is terribly
important. Build it!!

The Busy Fool
The busy fool likes to be hands on
with everything and therefore Social
Media marketing is something that
comes under their control.
They might not understand the
marketing intricacies of Social
Media. But like the admin, the HR,
the accounts, the PR, the front of
house customer service – they like
to be hands on and run the Social
Media themselves.
They share many of the personality
traits with the hare in that from
the outset it looks like all is well
and they’re going to be a shining
success.
When the doors open however
they’re overwhelmed with
everything in the business, and
Social Media becomes something
put on the back burner.
They’ll still keep their hands in

on Social Media – but it will be
something done after everything
else has been done – in the early
hours of the morning when most
people won’t see their updates.

Outcare the Competition

So how do you
avoid these
character traits?

What is meant about outcaring the
competition is actually going the
extra mile - taking time to talk to
customers online even when you’re
not selling to them or after they’ve
already bought from you.

Consistency is key when it comes
to great marketing and it’s the
most effective way to extend the
opening buzz into something more
substantial. By being consistent you
build longevity into your business
plan and keep customers coming
back time and time again.
Here’s how you build consistency:

Plan
Plan the Social Media Marketing 3-4
months in advance looking at not
just the huge seasonal marketing
opportunities, but also the micro
moments to market that come
through on a day by day basis.
These plans may include weekly
themes, competitions or
re-energised focus on a specific
area of the business or the
businesses USP.
During the planning process you
should also highlight what extra
content you will need in the lead up
to this - this might be design, print
or photographs.
Right up the moment of delivering
the marketing campaign you should
develop your content calendar and
expand on the initial ideas.

Customer Testimonials /
Feedback are Key

There are many who would say
every business cares about their
customers or otherwise they will go
out of business.

So many businesses care so
much about the sale or that one
moment that they forget about
the relationship.
If you care about the relationships
then the sales will take care of
themselves.

Benchmark and Measure
Set accepted standards and
benchmark vs previous months and
long term vs annual figures.
Marketing without measurement
is a fools game and with online
marketing you have the stats and
analytics to hand to back up what
you intuitively feel.
Between Google Analytics, Twitter
Analytics and Facebook Insights
you have a huge amounts of stats
to actually feed back into your
marketing campaigns.

Lesson: 1 customer review is worth
100 tweets from yourself saying how
great you are.
Whether it’s Tripadvisor, LinkedIn or
Freeindex - or a customer tweet or
facebook post - authentic customer
feedback is essential to not only
grow your customer base but also
to highlight issues.
When it comes to negative
feedback you need to take it as
seriously as positive feedback.

Alex McCann
Altrincham HQ
www.altrinchamhq.co.uk

34

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

digital marketing
Panda 4.1

- how to keep your website
from being deindexed

Last month we saw another
Google algorithm update in the
guise of Panda 4.1. in an effort to
dismiss sites that offered a poor
user experience. The update is
predominantly content based.
Little or poor content has been
penalised, quality and quantity
content has been rewarded.

We have all seen a slew of Google
updates which have decimated
low quality sites with poor or little
content. The major difference with
this update is the number of higher
quality or established sites which
have been negatively impacted.
What triggers a Google penalty?
There are no tears shed for
blatant affiliate sites, designed
as a pre-sell page to direct users
to affiliate products, feeling the
wrath of Google. With little or no
real content or value for the user,
these sites are carefully prepped to
falsely dominate rankings and force
impulse sales.
There are concerns however when
legitimate sites, many of which
have significant age and page
rank, are subject to scrutiny and
declassification. Even though
they are offering what users are
looking for they have to be careful
to adhere to stricter guidelines or
face censure too.
Although Google has purposely
not defined the criteria from the
latest update, careful analysis
of the affected sites gives us a
clear indication of factors which
triggered site penalty:
• Affiliate sites without useful
information that were basically
leading to others sites
• A list of affiliate links being
featured on the page before
genuine content
• Top organic listings with broken
or blank pages
• Keyword stuffing, doorway
pages, deceptive content,

security warnings, pop-up ads,
forced downloads

• ‘How To’ sites with quantity but
low quality content
As mentioned earlier, this is
nothing new but this update has
been far more thorough. Affiliate
sites which have been ranking form
as far back as 2012 have now been
penalised.
Did this update effect Local
Business websites?
The new twist however has seen
local business sites negatively
impacted. It is no longer enough
just to have a website and expect
to appear in local organic listings.
The factors which have affected the
affiliate sites have now been rolled
across the full spectrum of business
sites too.
Anything which detracts from
the user experience will have
a negative impact on your site
performance. Ads above the fold
and image heavy pages (which
slow page performance for
mobile visitors) both being prime
examples.
For maximum visibility you need to
focus heavily on the content and
experience your site is offering
the user:
1. Quality: Low volume, high
quality content beats high volume,
poor quality content every time.
Compose your pages with the
exact information your users are
requesting.
2. User Experience: Offer relevant
content with simple navigation for
ease of use and enhanced bounce
rates.
3. Optimise Every Page: Treat
every page with equal importance
to develop a full indexed site
that can establish authority in
your niche.
When is the next Google
update?
The most concerning aspect

of Panda 4.1 is that Google
has stipulated it will no longer
be announcing future updates
but performing them as and
when deemed necessary. This
means every site must adhere
to guidelines now or face the
prospect of deindexing.

we are perfectly placed to provide
your site with all the user rich
content your site needs and the
essential ranking criteria Google
demands.

If you have concerns over
your site you must get it
analysed now.
Jungle Associates can perform free
of charge a full website audit to
indicate where your site is Google
compliant and where it needs
redesigning. As SEO specialists,

Howard Jones
Jungle Associates
www.jungle-media.com

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Christmas gifts
in the business environment
– the tax implications
It’s Christmas and even though
there is growth and reason to
celebrate in the SME market,
not every business will have the
budget to spend on employees,
clients or suppliers this year.
However, for those that do, it
is important to be aware any
expenditure of a festive nature
may come with a tax bill attached.
In most cases, this will depend on
the value…

Gifts to Employees from
Clients or Suppliers
HMRC Help Sheet 207 focuses on
non-taxable payments or benefits
for employees, and highlights that
certain gifts from third parties are
non-taxable if all of the following
conditions are satisfied:
The person making the gift must
not be your employer or a person
connected with your employer,
and the gift cannot have been
directly or indirectly procured
by your employer or by a person
connected with your employer.
The gift itself can consist of
goods, or a voucher or token
only capable of being used to
obtain goods, and should not
be given either in recognition
of the performance of particular

services in the course of your
employment or in anticipation of
particular services which are to
be performed.
The cost of the gift by the
donor must be £250 or less, and
furthermore, the total cost of all
gifts made by the same donor to
you, or to members of your family
or household, during the tax year
is £250 or less.
Further information on benefits for
Employees can be found at
www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/
hs207.pdf.

Gifts from Employers
An employer may provide
employees with a seasonal gift,
such as a turkey, an ‘ordinary’
bottle of wine (please search
EIM21861 to find out what
HMRC mean by this!) or a box
of chocolates at Christmas, as
all of these gifts can be treated
as trivial benefits.
It is important to note that even
for an employer with a large
number of employees, where
the total cost of providing a
gift to each employee may be
considerable, if the gift to each
employee is considered a trivial
benefit, this principle applies
regardless of the total cost to

the employer and the number of
employees concerned. Trivial Gifts
should not be included in a PSA
(PAYE Settlement Agreement) as a
more flexible way of dealing with
some expenses payments and
benefits in kind.

Christmas Parties
Companies have a total allowance
of £150 per employee as costs
towards a ‘social function’ in any
one tax year. This can include a
Christmas party, regardless of
when the social function takes
place, i.e. it does not have to be
in December.

VAT on the purchase as input
tax.
To work out the VAT cost of your
gifts, please see Notice 700 on the
HMRC website, ‘The VAT Guide’.
It is always advisable to work with
your accountant at this time of
year, to ensure you can maximise
festive expenditure, after all,
Christmas is a time for giving and
sharing as unfortunately the Tax
Man (aka Mr Scrooge) doesn’t
always find the festive cheer!

Does VAT apply on
gifts?
As long as the total cost of all
business gifts in any 12-month
period made to the same person
does not exceed £50 (excluding
VAT), you will not have to account
for VAT. However, where the
following statements apply, you
will normally have to account for
output tax on the total value of all
the gifts:
• Where the total cost of business
gifts given to the same person
in any 12-month period
exceeds £50.

Les Leavitt

• You were entitled to claim the

www.lwaltd.com

Leavitt Walmsley Associates
Chartered Certified Accountants

Do you want to maximise the benefits of
using the various social media platforms,
but don’t have the time or the skills?

We have the solution.

“Bringing Business Back”

www.boomerangconsultants.co.uk
hello@boomerangconsultants.co.uk

0161 834 6112

36

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

web design

Improving your website conver
Clients often approach us with the
same dilemma: “We love our new
website but we’re not getting any
enquiries or sales.”
It can sometimes take businesses
by surprise when their website just
doesn’t work for them in the way
that they had hoped, despite it
looking the part.

saw and which has now disappeared,
you will have a frustrated client.
A slider can reduce the interactivity
between the user and the site and
can create Banner Blindness, which
is when a viewer bypasses the slider
completely.
Remove the distraction and replace
with a static offer that will encourage
your client to hit that Call-To-Action
button!

Don’t Use Jargon
Visitors to your site are regular
people who don’t want to be wowed
with fancy lingo and complicated
sentences. They also don’t want to
feel excluded by the use of words that
they need to look up in a dictionary.
Write your copy as though having
a conversation with a friend; if you
wouldn’t say it in normal day-to-day
use, don’t say it at all!

now! Don’t let that prospective client leave
the site to come back later, as often they
won’t. Give them a deadline: “Place your
order before 2pm for next day delivery.”
“Only 2 hours and 25 minutes remaining
to qualify for 25% discount.”
“Only 2 left in stock.”

Have Fun With A/B Testing

By creating two sites that are identical and
making small changes to one of them,
you can easily see, after a short amount
Stop Using Stock Photos
Add Real Testimonials
of time, which site your visitors prefer and
Stock photography can be very
It’s very obvious when fake testimonials which site has the most success. Have a
play with your wording, images, headlines
off-putting when your client really
have been used and very often, the
and Call-To-Action buttons. All of these
wants to see the real deal. Opt to take real testimonials contain the most
photos of your actual team, within your useful information for the prospective small amendments can contribute to big
own office or workplace. This builds
improvements in conversion rates.
client. Reading obviously fabricated
We’ve put together a few tried and
their trust and makes you look far more testimonials breeds mistrust.
tested methods that all contribute to
Add Badges and Security Seals
approachable and real.
significantly improving your conversion
Give a Special Offer Deadline If you have been handed an award, display
rate and ultimately the effectiveness of Use Relevant Images
Present the user with a reason why they it on your site. Similarly, if your check-out
your site.
Don’t use images to fill the gaps.
should click that Call-To-Action button process features a banking security system
Images should be informative and not
Choose a Simple Layout
used to make your site look pretty. Use
When a visitor lands on your
your A/B testing to see which images
page, they need to be able to see
are more appealing to your visitors.
the information that they require
immediately. Is your menu visible?
Add a Video
Are your contact details available?
...but make it a short one! Prospective
Are your products or services easy to
customers like to see videos of
locate? Make sure that the relevant
products and services. However,
information is not being hidden in
a video should be 2 minutes long or
favour of big graphics and stunning
less if you want to really grab your
visuals.
client’s attention.
Thankfully, optimising your conversion
rate - which basically means turning
your site visits into sales or enquiries isn’t as challenging as it sounds.
It actually involves a bit of common
sense and a lot of it you can do
yourself without the need to hire a
professional web studio.

Make Your Call-To-Action
Button Obvious
Don’t hide your ‘Contact Us’ and ‘Buy
Now’ buttons at the bottom of your
page amongst a load of text and
other images. Your CTA button should
stand prominently on your page, in
a contrasting colour, and it should
definitely look like a button rather than
a link. Test a few options in your A/B
testing and see what happens!

Think About Ditching the
Image Slider
Whilst the carousel at the top of your
home page may look very impressive,
it might not be getting the attention
that you think it is. It stands at the
forefront of your website, in the most
useful space that you have. If your
viewer cannot keep up with reading
the text that keeps sliding away, or
can’t decipher how to go back and
look again at the product that they just

Reduce Form Fields
Make it as easy as possible to buy
from you and to contact you. Do you
really need to know that much about
the client? A long form with a lot of
fields to fill in is off-putting. You can
always have the option to ‘Register’ as
a separate optional form, or if you are
offering a service to your client, you
can gather more information from
them at a later date. When we
drastically cut down on our fields
earlier this year, the result was
immediate and quite staggering!

Provide a Phone Number
So many websites do not provide
contact details. By displaying your
phone number prominently at the
top of your page in big lettering,
you automatically appear to be
more approachable, and the user
is reassured that they can contact
you if they wish to.

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

rsion rate
like Norton, make sure your users
know this on the homepage - they will
know that they are in safe hands.

Keep Blogging!
If you have a blog, keep it updated.
A blog serves as an insight into the
business and builds trust between the
client and the service you are offering.
It should almost serve as your shop
door, where the visitor can come in,
have a look around, have a chat and
feel more informed. An out of date
blog suggests that business is not
going well, the doors are closed,
that you don’t care too much
about your customers and that you
don’t have very much to say of any
importance.

optimising your site is an ongoing
process. Once you reach your target
conversions, there is no reason to
stop tweaking - keep going. See
if you can make even more of an
improvement. Have fun with it and
explore what works best for you and
your clients and business.

All of these suggestions are things that
you can do yourself.

Alex Peterson

It’s worth noting though that

www.pixel-air.co.uk

Pixel Air

37

38

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

December/January 2015

hr

Holiday pay
and overtime
EAT decision on
holiday pay and
overtime – what it
means in practice

After the announcement of the
Employment Appeal Tribunal’s
decision on Tuesday, 4 November
2014 that overtime should count in
holiday pay and what businesses
should consider, we examine the
implications a little more deeply.
The news channels and social
media sites are saturated with the
Employment Appeal Tribunal’s (EAT)
decision that overtime should be
taken into account when holiday pay
is calculated.
But once we get past the headlines,
what does this ruling mean for
businesses in practice?

The following points are crucial for
companies to consider:

The ruling relates to
“non-guaranteed overtime”
as opposed to voluntary overtime.
“Non-guaranteed overtime” means
overtime which the employer is
not obliged to offer but that the
employee is contractually obliged to
do if offered.
The requirement to include
overtime only applies to the
first four weeks (including bank
holidays) of holiday taken in each
holiday year. The remaining 1.6
weeks’ holiday (as required by UK
law) or any additional contractual
holiday can be based on normal

remuneration excluding overtime.

If there is a gap of three months or
more between claims of qualifying
holiday pay then this breaks the
chain for any claim. In practice, as
the requirement to pay holiday
pay only applies for the first four
weeks’ holiday then during the last
three months of any holiday year
employees are likely to be taking
the additional 1.6 weeks’ holiday or
any additional contractual holidays.
This would then break the chain
for any claims. The maximum risk
to most businesses is likely to be
backdated claims for the current
holiday year only.
So what should businesses do?
Firstly, managing directors and HR
departments should be ready to
answer employees’ questions. Some,
for example, may now think they are
entitled to 16 years’ back pay.
Secondly, firms must decide how
administratively they are going to
include overtime pay in the holiday
pay calculations.

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Businesses should also decide
whether they are going to include
overtime in the first four weeks of
holiday pay only, in the 5.6 weeks’
holiday pay or the full contractual
holiday pay entitlement (if greater).
This is likely to be based on a
consideration of the administrative
costs of having a two-tier holiday
pay balanced against the costs of
paying holiday pay that includes
overtime for more than the required
four weeks.
It will be important for firms to
consider whether they need to
budget in the current financial year
for any valid claims their employees
may have for backdated pay. Rather
than settling any claims now, it may
be worth waiting to see whether the
employees bring claims or at least
invoke the Advisory, Conciliation
and Arbitration Services (ACAS)
conciliation process.
Finally, to minimise the financial

impact of this case, businesses
should review contracts and
processes. For example they should:

• Change contracts to provide for
voluntary rather than
“non-guaranteed overtime”.
As part of the review we expect
all overtime, or at least regular
overtime, will have to be included
as it will classed as “normal” pay.
• Limit or refuse holidays after
periods of high overtime.
• Use agency or bank staff to cover
periods traditionally covered
by overtime.
The case still leaves a lot of
unanswered questions and issues
including:
• over what period do you include
holiday pay in the calculations;
• should bonuses, commission or
other premiums be included; and
• should it apply to the 5.6 week’s
of UK holiday as opposed to the
4 weeks only.
We understand that Unite has
decided not to appeal this
decision but we are waiting to
see if there is an appeal by the
employers. The government has
appointed a taskforce to consider
the implications of this case. We
are also awaiting guidance from
the President of the Employment
Tribunals. We haven’t heard the last
of holiday pay and will have further
developments over the next few
months.

Karen Bexley
MLP Law
www.mlplaw.co.uk

December/January 2015

39

TRAFFORD BUSINESS connect

networking

7 Secrets of successful networking
Over a professional lifetime it is
easily possible to build a substantial
network of business associates and
contacts.
If you are a serial networker and wish
to develop a successful business
network it is crucial that you are able
to build, develop and maintain a
database of influential people, both
on-line and off-line.
It was following a meeting with
a business school lecturer from
Manchester Metropolitan University
that I was offered the opportunity
to deliver a guest seminar, and I
chose to answer the question ‘What
are the Seven Secrets of Successful
Networking?’

Why and where to network were
also discussed at the seminar, and
the participants were transported
to a mythical networking event
where they learned how to prepare,
both physically and mentally,
and how to adopt the correct
behaviour, including rules on alcohol
consumption and meeting
and greeting.
They learned how to ‘work the room’
and be interesting to new people by
talking about what they are rather
than who they are, and then how to
follow up their new contacts.
So, what are the seven secrets of
successful networking?

The interactive lecture was delivered
to a room full of students at the
University, who were initially told a
story of a chance meeting where
I was offered the opportunity to
purchase £78 million worth of
residential property being sold by
a property development company
and, after having done my own due
diligence, found thirteen potential
investors from my own contact list
each with the money required.

1. Be There - You need to get out
there and join a few organisations,
not just networking groups. What
about sports clubs, golf societies,
religious groups, charities - the list is
endless. Don’t forget though when
choosing a group to join that you are
interested in the type of club. People
will get to know and like you as an
enthusiast before they even think of
discussing business. Remember - it’s
a long-term business strategy rather
than a get-rich-quick approach.

This story relates to my background
not just in property but as a long
time networker and collector of
useful contacts. It is so important
to build a strong network and also
to maintain contacts. This can be
achieved by both on-line and off-line
methods, and by far one of the most
effective methods in initially building
this database is through Networking.

2. Give to Get - Be generous in
business. You only get out of any
organisation what you put in. If you
give free help and advice to other
people they’ll remember you and
return the favour. Make sure they
know you are happy to talk about
any business issue that relates to
your skillset without obligation (at
least initially).

At a later seminar delivered to the
Chartered Institute of Marketing
the emphasis was more on personal
branding, of which networking is a
vital part, which is crucial to building
a successful long term career.
I suggest writing a blog, tweeting
and joining LinkedIn, with emphasis
on the importance of completing
your profile. I would also urge
everyone to have professionallydesigned business cards, and to
have an ‘elevator speech’ committed
to memory that is not simply just
a sales pitch but a quick, succinct
method of leaving the desired
impression with a potential client or
key person in your network.

3. Look Good - You never get
a second chance to make a first
impression so dress well and be
well groomed. Don’t over-do
the aftershave or perfume, but
remember when networking you will
have to stand close sometimes when
in conversation, especially when
everyone else in the room are talking
at the same time.
4. Be Interested rather than
Interesting - People love good
listeners so ask questions and find
out more about the people you’re
meeting.
5. Be Tooled Up - I’m constantly
amazed by business people who do
not personally brand themselves.

Carry your business card in every
jacket, in your wallet and in the car.
Make sure your card works it’s socks
off as a marketing tool!
6. You’re Only Selling Yourself
- Many business and professional
people still think that networking
is all about talking non-stop about
your business. It isn’t. Contacts will
always decide first if they buy into
you. If they do, business may follow.

personal business network. The
seven part guide above will certainly
help you network better, but there
is so much more you can do to
make networking feature as a crucial
part of your marketing strategy
regardless of the sort of business
you run.

7. Follow Up, Keep In Touch
- This phrase makes an interesting
acronym so you won’t forget it!
Don’t harass contacts by phone
or email after a meeting. But a
short email saying how good it was
to meet them and suggesting a
meeting - if you didn’t do so at the
time - can be very effective.
By following a few simple rules,
networking can be an incredibly
powerful tool in building your

Mike Samuels
Great Oak Capital
www.greatoakcapital.co.uk

learn how to
create a

winning

impression

Grow your business effectively, positively and inexpensively with a
seminar on the seven secrets of successful networking.
Learn to say what you are rather than who you are.
Understand personal branding, online networking, working the room
and following up and maximising the connections that you make.
Mike Samuels will present a seminar with a comprehensive,
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and deliver real benefits.
The following events are covered - Conferences, Exhibitions,
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a truly memorable experience call:

Express yourself well
- say how you feel
So many of us can feel that we’re
automatically programmed to say
‘yes’ when something is asked
of us. It’s so difficult to resist the
temptation to be useful, do the
right thing, help someone in need,
not disappoint or cause offence.
Yet saying ‘yes’ when we don’t
want to can eventually lead to
feeling used, unappreciated
and resentful.

But if, over time we gradually start
to notice that we’re the one who
always helps out, is obliging, says
‘yes’ when we’d prefer to say ‘no’
and gets nothing in return we can
start to feel frustrated and hurt.
Rarely receiving consideration
or even a simple ‘thank you’ can
ensure that saying ‘yes’ begins to
feel really negative and that we’re
letting ourselves down.

Learning to be assertive and say
how we feel in an appropriate way
means that when we do agree we
are happy to undertake that extra
task at work, go for a drink or do
that favour.

Sometimes, though others
may not fully appreciate the
magnitude of our ‘yes’, the fact
that we may have given a massive
concession, a major investment
of ourselves may have escaped
their notice. They may have simply
asked a question which they
expected us to answer honestly.
When we said ‘yes’ they assumed
that we were happy to do what
was asked, maybe even appeared
enthusiastic about the invitation
or request. They simply took us at
our word.

We’re not feeling cajoled, bullied
or guilt-tripped. Sometimes saying
‘yes’ to things we don’t want to
do can be okay; we may feel it’s
good manners, have rationalised
our reasons for going along with
something on this occasion, feel
that it’s important to gain brownie
points or be flexible.
But if we sense that it’s becoming
a negative pattern, that others
expect us to always agree we may
need to consider the unspoken
messages that we’re giving. Have
others started to view us as a
pushover?
If that’s the case then ‘yes’ has
become the most negative word in
our vocabulary.
Saying how we feel means
that we’re investing in our
relationships and are keen to
continue working towards being
open, honest and comfortable
together. When we’re at ease and
prepared to give, share and be
real about our feelings it helps
us build trusting and mutually
respectful relationships where
communication occurs without
a second thought. We’re not
counting or keeping a record of
our good deeds compared to the
other person’s or having to think
about everything before we speak.

I remember a client, a top female
manager in a male-dominated
national company. She was
seriously stressed, working long
hours with virtually no free time
or personal life. She always said
‘yes’ to her manager because she
was concerned that if she didn’t
he would assume she wasn’t
coping and was perhaps not up
to the job.
One evening she was driving
home late at night and her boss
called and asked her to do an
urgent report for him.
Her confidence and assertiveness
had improved, so she felt able
to explain what she was already
working on, say she was happy to
do the report but needed his advice
on rescheduling her workload to
incorporate the new request. It
turned out that he was unaware
of her other commitments, was
enquiring if she had any spare
capacity and was happy to get
someone else to do it.

She dealt with his request calmly,
efficiently and effectively,
avoided going into old patterns
of automatically saying ‘yes’
and having to work throughout
the night.
Good communications are
important. Being open and
honest, expressing clearly that
you’re happy to do something,
want to be supportive, spend time
together, show willing but need
others to reciprocate, understand
and appreciate your point of view
is a fairer way of experiencing
your relationships.
You express how you feel, where
you stand and are clear about
what you want from your partner
in return.

It can be useful to reflect on
why we have this mindset, why
this pattern has evolved in our
relationships.
Were our role models peoplepleasers, always compliant?
Was disagreement regarded
as argumentative, unattractive,
unacceptable? Were our views and
wishes criticised and dismissed?
Learning to become more
confident and express ourselves in
a positive, assertive way can add
significantly to the quality of our
relationships and consequentially
improve our relationship with
ourself.

If we feel obligated, pressurised
or second-guessed we can start
to feel resentful. Always being
the ‘good guy’ can quickly wear
thin and appear less attractive,
especially if it becomes apparent
that others automatically assume
we will go along with their wishes.
We can feel unappreciated,
disregarded, inconsequential.
But if we don’t speak up and say
how we feel we have to accept
some responsibility for other
people’s assumptions.
It’s important to deal with a
situation before it causes serious
damage to the dynamics of our
relationships.
Looking at other people’s
relationships and comparing
them to our own can cause
jealousy to rear its head, especially
if they appear to be having
adult conversations, discussing
their wishes, compromising
and negotiating. We may feel
annoyed, jealous, disappointed
if we suspect we’ve become
invisible, the easy-going, selfsacrificing one with a strong sense
of duty and a desire to make
other’s lives easier.

Susan Leigh MNCH (ACC)

Susan runs Altrincham based
Lifestyle Therapy offering a
tailor made combination of
counselling and hypnotherapy
on a one-to-one or group basis.
For more articles, information
or to make contact please call
0161 928 7880 or visit

Leavitt Walmsley Associates
YOUR LOCAL AWARD-WINNING ACCOUNTANTS
AND BUSINESS ADVISORS

Leavitt Walmsley Associates Ltd is an award-winning independent firm of chartered
certified accountants based in Sale, headed up by directors Les Leavitt and Steve Collings.
The firm provides a range of business solutions to a national client base including:
• Audit and accountancy
• Business support and
networked services

“

I have had the pleasure of having LWA as
both our company accountants and personal

practice very helpful and most importantly very practical.
Our business has grown dramatically during the last
decade and LWA have proved very diligent advisors.
In short I cannot recommend LWA highly enough.

”

Richard Dears, Managing Director, Remstone Group

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FREE business review illustrating your business’ growth potential, please get
in touch and simply quote ‘TBCM review’ to book your appointment.